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8/30/2017 10 Comments

Why I Write Clean

Picture
Clean reads are books without profanity and gratuitous sex. Here’s why that’s what I write.
 
Language
 
First, I believe in not dishonoring God by using his name or his son’s name inappropriately.
 
But what about other curse words? Often, I think people use them for several reasons—the pain they are in, anger, bad habit, an attempt to prove something, for shock value, or laziness. I should probably add ignorance that swearing is displeasing to God.
 
This summer at the LA SCBWI conference Kwame Alexander read a piece of one of his poems and his interviewer asked him why he hadn’t used swear words in a certain line. First, he told us his mom was going to read the book. Secondly, he taught poetry for 9 years and taught his students not to use profanity. Third, who his publisher is. But because he couldn’t use the convenient short cut of a curse he had to be more creative. He wrote something no one had heard before. How cool is that?
 
I also don’t enjoy reading a lot of foul language, so why would I write it? And the more I don’t hear it, read it, see it, the less likely I’m tempted to use it myself. Does anyone really need to be exposed to it?
 
Note: It’s actually more shocking when someone who doesn’t use profanity uses it than when someone who habitually uses it swears.
 
Sex
 
Sex is a wonderful thing between a husband and wife. And that’s where I believe it belongs—between them. Not on the pages of any book I write.
 
Also, when I write an “adult” book, I want it to be safe for a younger audience. I so remember reading Mary Stewart’s Airs Above the Ground as a young teen. There’s a scene after a visual break where the husband is putting his socks back on. It meant nothing to me. Later I reread the book as an adult and the light dawned—oh, they made love. My daughter talks about having the same discovery as an adult. It was so subtle our teen selves missed it. But our adult selves enjoyed the inside knowledge of the small hint.
 
Our imagination is wonderful at filling in the blanks. I like leaving some room for the reader’s imagination.
 
An honestly, I think a long-awaited kiss can be very romantic. One of my favorite scenes in Pride and Prejudice (the movie with Kiera Knightley and Matthew McFadden) is the closing scene—the first time they actually kiss.

If you also write clean, I’d love to hear your reasons why.


10 Comments
Ben Langhinrichs link
8/30/2017 03:38:30 pm

I've written both clean and not-so-clean, but I am focusing on middle grade and for that, I feel compelled to write the same fairly innocent, old fashioned novels that I loved so much at that age. When my novel was accepted by Clean Reads, I checked it over carefully and realized I didn't have to make any changes due to content, because that is already how I write.

I think kids can be excited by books without unwarranted violence, swearing or cruelty. (Sex is off the table anyway for that age.) I think teachers and parents should be able to pick up a middle grade novel to read it aloud without having to skim the pages and self edit. I don't want any part in chipping away at what is left of the innocence of childhood.

Reply
SM Ford
8/31/2017 01:04:15 pm

I love your last line!

Reply
Brian link
8/30/2017 08:30:33 pm

I am in agreement with you here. Curse words have been so overused they are like white noise. Avoiding them is also an incentive to be more creative. For instance, I once watched two versions of the same scene in a show. One of them had a character call another "son of a bitch". Bland, unoriginal, and boring right? The other scene used "stupid blind freak", which I preferred. As for sex scenes, the parental bonus is also a sign of greater skill which also leads to a broader market.

Reply
SM Ford
8/31/2017 01:05:15 pm

Yes, white noise!

Reply
nix whittaker
8/30/2017 10:38:34 pm

I have the same reasons. I love a good fade to black and the tension is much more pleasing than a technical novel. I've been busy with an internal debate though about having my characters engage in intimacy before they are married. I mostly use it as a short cut as I don't want to take the time to have them get married first before I have the romance. But it bugs me because I'm also religious and don't want to give the idea that it is right to take short cuts in real life.

Reply
SM Ford
8/31/2017 01:06:46 pm

If you don't want to give the idea it's okay, then don't write it. Unless you show consequences. ;-)

Reply
Emily-Jane Hills Orford link
8/31/2017 07:21:46 am

I remember when my first book, "Spring", was first released. Several readers commented on how nice it was to finally read something that was clean. It brought to mind my mother's thoughts on the subject, it stems from the old Victorian attitude of leaving the sensual stuff at the bedroom door and the rest to the reader's imagination.

Reply
SM Ford
8/31/2017 01:08:41 pm

I know it's a direct turn off for me if there's a bunch of language and then sex for sex's sake.

Reply
Eve Culley link
9/4/2017 07:32:48 pm

I write "clean" as a result of my characters when I write. As a children's author I just can't imagine my main character, a cat, who tells the story and his inter actions with the other residents of Barn Town as having a foul mouth. I personally do not believe that foul language is necessary to get your point across. I was taught when growing up that the use of foul language indicated a limited and poor use of the English language. In other words, someone who was not educated or taught how to speak properly. God gave us an active, beautiful, curious mind to use to communicate with others. Why would we want to fill it with the garbage of this world?

Reply
SM Ford
9/5/2017 09:07:56 am

So true!

Reply



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    SM Ford writes inspirational fiction for adults, although teens may find the stories of interest, too. She also loves assisting other writers on their journeys.

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