tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post378971556382706902..comments2024-03-28T16:20:46.168-04:00Comments on Alex J. Cavanaugh: The Big Idea, Cursing, and a Ton of NewsAlex J. Cavanaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-82652506303072744152011-12-15T01:13:46.824-05:002011-12-15T01:13:46.824-05:00Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge on this ...Thank you for sharing your vast knowledge on this subject and Congrats on the awards and the articleMedia Newshttp://www.afaqs.com/perl/media/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-59873769839483776272011-12-10T18:24:47.607-05:002011-12-10T18:24:47.607-05:00Hey Geof! Thanks - appreciate that.Hey Geof! Thanks - appreciate that.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-56094422591551406612011-12-09T21:32:37.726-05:002011-12-09T21:32:37.726-05:00Cursing is not needed in any genre and that was a ...Cursing is not needed in any genre and that was a good thing about CassaStar. <br /><br />And congrats on your article getting included!The Man-Cavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18148994596635513600noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-25442882469979979262011-12-08T21:11:10.118-05:002011-12-08T21:11:10.118-05:00Bru, thank you! I wanted it to appeal to all ages....Bru, thank you! I wanted it to appeal to all ages. <br />Really appreciate you stopping by!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-51333106761465304012011-12-08T10:24:30.428-05:002011-12-08T10:24:30.428-05:00You did what your heart told you to do- that's...You did what your heart told you to do- that's the right thing!<br /><br />I think that putting profanity in a book just for the sake of it is like a group of middle school kids swearing to try to look cool. It just sounds ridiculous and is, I think, a lazy way to try to make your book feel 'edgy' or cool.<br /><br />Now having said that, you definitely do have to take your subject matter and audience into mind. If you're writing a grisly war story, (not say historical or fantasy, but modern-day) I doubt the soldiers in the foxholes would be saying "Oh merciful heavens! It appears that the enemy is about to attack us! Drat it all to heck!"<br /><br />And likely an audience that would read a book like that would not only not be offended by the use of grittier language but would go in expecting it. <br /><br />So it's all about who you're playing to, and how to make the story and the characters feel real. That's what I think, anyway.<br /><br />Your book is family friendly, and that totally rocks.<br /><br />~bruFebruary Gracehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01078037856070486022noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-44224985185902264192011-12-08T09:10:20.134-05:002011-12-08T09:10:20.134-05:00Amy, thanks!
Hey Donea! Yeah, I just can't pu...Amy, thanks!<br /><br />Hey Donea! Yeah, I just can't put harsh cussing in my writing.<br /><br />JB, you understand completely!<br /><br />Pat, thanks! And appreciate you reading the article.<br /><br />Vicki, not me either.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-61344013683888950452011-12-08T08:15:24.683-05:002011-12-08T08:15:24.683-05:00Lots of good news! Congrats on the awards and the ...Lots of good news! Congrats on the awards and the article. I agree with the swearing. I can throw out a few of the lower-level words but I can't do the "big" ones. Just not me.Vicki Rochohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07381089434014961076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-81057269457816267502011-12-07T20:15:00.796-05:002011-12-07T20:15:00.796-05:00I just got back from Specushphere. Good job Alex! ...I just got back from Specushphere. Good job Alex! I think the one thing that REALLY helps your sales is your energy! I don't see how you do it, but you do. You are involved in so much stuff on line and I think that just about all the people you come in contact with like you. That sure can't hurt! Add to all that, the fact that your book is awesome!Pat Tilletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17699973774273291205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-50409793456453937832011-12-07T16:06:09.561-05:002011-12-07T16:06:09.561-05:00"I have never read a book and thought “You kn..."I have never read a book and thought “You know, if the author had just dropped the F-bomb a few times, it might’ve been a good story.”"<br />That's exactly how I feel.<br /><br />Even in my own novel, there are places where I could have inserted profanity--it may have even added a more 'realistic' flavor, but I just didn't want that attached to my name, plain and simple. The story should be able to stand without it.J.B. Chicoinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06894797553204276281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-63789933399604262692011-12-07T14:53:57.093-05:002011-12-07T14:53:57.093-05:00Hi, Alex!! Just popping in from my blogcation so ...Hi, Alex!! Just popping in from my blogcation so say "hello!" and see what I'm missing ~ :)<br /><br />I'm with you - there's not much (if any) cussing in my writing, typically. Although - I know when my 17-year-old protag says something like "Heck" or "Dangit!" - I've had people comment before, "Would a 17-year-old in today's world really talk like that? Why not just use the "real" word?"... Hmm. I think it's a fine line, sometimes.<br /><br />Hope you're having a great week! :)Donea Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15393184831994368021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-52122485858185206812011-12-07T09:12:16.418-05:002011-12-07T09:12:16.418-05:00Congrats on the award Alex! And thank you for shar...Congrats on the award Alex! And thank you for sharing those new book releases, I can always use more to add to my TBr list. <br /><br />Good choice with the cussing. I barely use it myself, and never really liked reading it in excess. Heading over to check out your guest post!Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16915440989018472093noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-58311259542550924722011-12-07T03:51:55.769-05:002011-12-07T03:51:55.769-05:00The Ground Rules are necessary in all areas, but e...The Ground Rules are necessary in all areas, but equally important is to leave room for imagination.Leovihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14970831445283294241noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-65688361700196657362011-12-06T21:41:09.632-05:002011-12-06T21:41:09.632-05:00ER, thanks! And that's all right.
Helena, I t...ER, thanks! And that's all right.<br /><br />Helena, I totally agree.<br /><br />LD, good for you! Now you have a ton of movies he can watch, and they will be new to him - and clean.<br /><br />Thank you, Dafeenah. If it makes you feel better, you're not dead last.<br /><br />Thanks, Julie.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-31823665401119184452011-12-06T20:33:33.934-05:002011-12-06T20:33:33.934-05:00Alex, I think you made the right decision about cu...Alex, I think you made the right decision about cussing. If it doesn't fit the story, it stands out. And if the story is great, you don't need F-bombs to get attention!Julie Musilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02150454913885915017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-29108528910024889782011-12-06T19:32:30.551-05:002011-12-06T19:32:30.551-05:00oh well back to the bottom, but at least I had one...oh well back to the bottom, but at least I had one day of glory at the top!! And I do find excessive cussing a turn off EVEN if it fits the story line. I don't mind the occasional cuss word here or there but I prefer the author find another way to express it. Although the occasional word here or there won't make me hate the book but a thousand in just weird places is a definite turn off for me. I like that you don't feel pressured to add it into your books.Dafeenahhttp://www.indiedesignz.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-67446725847829222662011-12-06T18:48:33.274-05:002011-12-06T18:48:33.274-05:00I know my 13 year old grandson hears plenty of cus...I know my 13 year old grandson hears plenty of cussing but I feel a lot better about giving him a book as a gift if it's not laced with foul language.<br /><br />Side note: This same grandson wanted to see a movie about Rome and the gladiators. I couldn't bring myself to sit and watch any of today's gladiator movies with him so I Netflixed the original Spartacus (the Kirk Douglas version). No bad language, no graphic sex, and minimum gore. He was stunned. He couldn't believe an "old movie" could be that good. Next we're getting Ben Hur.LD Mastersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01202135756299574972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-85068863773354620592011-12-06T18:02:32.256-05:002011-12-06T18:02:32.256-05:00As far as cuss words go, you know what's right...As far as cuss words go, you know what's right for your book and what isn't. Years ago I read David Mamet's play American Buffalo, which won the Pulitzer, and every other word was a variation on the f-word. Yes, the language fit the characters, but I'd rather see a play by a real wordsmith like Tom Stoppard (he co-wrote Shakespeare in Love). He can occasionally use the f- or other such words, but so lightly they fit well.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-9198987572189247442011-12-06T16:59:11.919-05:002011-12-06T16:59:11.919-05:00How did I miss the news about CASSASTAR being a be...How did I miss the news about CASSASTAR being a bestseller on Amazon the first time I read this? I guess I zeroed in on the romance novelist and lost track of you. Sorry, Alex. A belated congrats to you!Emily R. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03892444969625637064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-49594015145935218522011-12-06T16:41:10.289-05:002011-12-06T16:41:10.289-05:00Karen, you nailed it! What if my mom read it...?
...Karen, you nailed it! What if my mom read it...?<br /><br />Angela, thanks. And damn is my go-to word as well.<br /><br />Thanks, Christine.<br /><br />Clarissa, I know!!!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-50063721497201104472011-12-06T14:37:08.042-05:002011-12-06T14:37:08.042-05:00I go away for a week and a lot of stuff happens. C...I go away for a week and a lot of stuff happens. Congrats and now I have to check out the other links and news.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12160669603997465454noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-56836378487200090832011-12-06T14:35:58.237-05:002011-12-06T14:35:58.237-05:00You made the right decision. Cursing only works if...You made the right decision. Cursing only works if it fits the story and then don't have it too much. It takes away the impact it can have. I use it sparingly in my stories and most of what I write is contemporary.Christine Rainshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08263694662585963900noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-73232357879901521152011-12-06T14:31:00.797-05:002011-12-06T14:31:00.797-05:00I completely agree with you- the way we write is a...I completely agree with you- the way we write is a good representation of our personalities. I might throw an ocassional "damn" into my dialogs but you won't find any heavy artillery in there. In life I rarely curse too. There are so many great words in English language to be used that I don't find cussing necessary. <br /><br />I definitely don't like nasty words in YA books at all, but very sparingly used "light" cussing is often okay in the adult literature. It all depends on the characters.Author A.O. Pearthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09522726537375775560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-75579738661714487342011-12-06T14:29:18.303-05:002011-12-06T14:29:18.303-05:00I'm with you. Swearing in novels doesn't b...I'm with you. Swearing in novels doesn't bother me that much, especially if it's used only as an enhancement to the characters. But I don't personally include a lot of swearing in my stories because I imagine my mom will want to read them one day.Karen M. Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06972093977468313631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-36005383484799045022011-12-06T14:07:38.123-05:002011-12-06T14:07:38.123-05:00Laila, thank you! I hope you enjoy it. My book and...Laila, thank you! I hope you enjoy it. My book and the Kindle. No rules as far as I know. And Spartacus is like a guilty pleasure. Told my wife there's no way I could watch it with her in the room though!<br /><br />Nisa, thank you so much!!!Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8699262959296846764.post-85049944505155740422011-12-06T12:25:51.560-05:002011-12-06T12:25:51.560-05:00Kids swear a lot nowadays. I think you can write a...Kids swear a lot nowadays. I think you can write as much or as little of the swear words in. After all, kids as young as three or four are surfing the net all the time.<br /><br /><a href="http://steamyfantasy.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow"> My Darcy Vibrates…</a>Enid Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12248877161249788607noreply@blogger.com