EllenMaksoud Posted June 17, 2013 Posted June 17, 2013 There is a true story that needs telling, and the first two chapters feature a very profane, angry stepfather. Everytime the man speaks, it is with loathsome profanity. Somewhere in the book, he will leave the story, and the protagonist will encounter Heavenly Father in a way too vivid to ignore.So, I think it is important to the integrity of the story for the first part to be profane and rough. I wonder if this will prevent people of faith from reading it, even if it is true?
volgadon Posted June 17, 2013 Posted June 17, 2013 There is a true story that needs telling, and the first two chapters feature a very profane, angry stepfather. Everytime the man speaks, it is with loathsome profanity. Somewhere in the book, he will leave the story, and the protagonist will encounter Heavenly Father in a way too vivid to ignore.So, I think it is important to the integrity of the story for the first part to be profane and rough. I wonder if this will prevent people of faith from reading it, even if it is true?Of course, if it is too heavy and too gratuituous, then I won't read it. Otherwise, I am fine with artistic integrity requiring it to be somewhat rough. 1
EllenMaksoud Posted June 17, 2013 Author Posted June 17, 2013 Of course, if it is too heavy and too gratuituous, then I won't read it. Otherwise, I am fine with artistic integrity requiring it to be somewhat rough.One of the issues is that stories of this nature can trigger certain people.
Ahab Posted June 17, 2013 Posted June 17, 2013 There is a true story that needs telling, and the first two chapters feature a very profane, angry stepfather. Everytime the man speaks, it is with loathsome profanity. Somewhere in the book, he will leave the story, and the protagonist will encounter Heavenly Father in a way too vivid to ignore.So, I think it is important to the integrity of the story for the first part to be profane and rough. I wonder if this will prevent people of faith from reading it, even if it is true?The fact that something is true doesn't mean it is worth reading. When I read a book I try to put myself in the place of a character in the book and imagine that I am there experiencing whatever is being talked about, so if I wouldn't want to be the really rude guy or hear the really rude guy speak to me, in real life, I would avoid the situation or in this case the book which I would see as trying to put me in that situation.I believe we should seek things that are lovely and virtuous and praiseworthy and of good report while trying to avoid the bad stuff.
Questing Beast Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 There is a true story that needs telling, and the first two chapters feature a very profane, angry stepfather. Everytime the man speaks, it is with loathsome profanity. Somewhere in the book, he will leave the story, and the protagonist will encounter Heavenly Father in a way too vivid to ignore.So, I think it is important to the integrity of the story for the first part to be profane and rough. I wonder if this will prevent people of faith from reading it, even if it is true?Yes. You can describe the nature of his language without using dialogue. "He cursed her bungling with a stream of profanity so foul that it tore at her soul's core, it numbed her into immobility such that she hardly felt the familiar blows that followed. She retreated from that invective like a small animal fleeing down a burrow in the ground to the security of its den, and there she curled into a ball and sang/moaned to herself far away from her own body and the ordeal that it was going through..." Something like that? It's a challenging way to write, but is surely a huge step above what the "world of creative writers" has sold out to, gross bastardization of the language in the name of "realism".... 2
EllenMaksoud Posted June 19, 2013 Author Posted June 19, 2013 Yes. You can describe the nature of his language without using dialogue. "He cursed her bungling with a stream of profanity so foul that it tore at her soul's core, it numbed her into immobility such that she hardly felt the familiar blows that followed. She retreated from that invective like a small animal fleeing down a burrow in the ground to the security of its den, and there she curled into a ball and sang/moaned to herself far away from her own body and the ordeal that it was going through..." Something like that? It's a challenging way to write, but is surely a huge step above what the "world of creative writers" has sold out to, gross bastardization of the language in the name of "realism"....Wow, I wish you could be my Ghost Writer! Yes, your way of saying it seems infinitely better than what I have been struggling to write, and undoubtedly more positive! It will force me to a new level of "Wordsmythy". Right now, it is only worked on occaisonally because it causes too much reflection on things that can not be undone.
The Nehor Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 Use artistic license. Turn the angry stepfather into a struggling clown to add some color. Make the profanity a tendency to drone on and on about balloon animals. Instead of having him leave the story have him die in a tragic clown car collision.Trust me, the story will be better for it. 1
Questing Beast Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 Wow, I wish you could be my Ghost Writer! Yes, your way of saying it seems infinitely better than what I have been struggling to write, and undoubtedly more positive! It will force me to a new level of "Wordsmythy". Right now, it is only worked on occaisonally because it causes too much reflection on things that can not be undone. But, the project will undoubtedly be cathartic exercise for you. Whether or not anyone else reads it, or whether or not you even publish it, writing it must be something you are compelled by necessity to do. I wish you good success in satisfying yourself, both in the excising of the feelings, and their expression.... 2
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 (edited) There is a true story that needs telling, and the first two chapters feature a very profane, angry stepfather. Everytime the man speaks, it is with loathsome profanity. Somewhere in the book, he will leave the story, and the protagonist will encounter Heavenly Father in a way too vivid to ignore.So, I think it is important to the integrity of the story for the first part to be profane and rough. I wonder if this will prevent people of faith from reading it, even if it is true?Just a fear that if people don't know where it going to lose interest. There are ways to explain this without listing to much of the profane language. Many of my poems start out with a negative tone, then move toward redemption. Edited June 19, 2013 by Bill “Papa” Lee
Tacenda Posted June 19, 2013 Posted June 19, 2013 Let me know when you're finished and it's ready for bookstores or internet or this board, I'd love to read it!!!!
Tacenda Posted June 25, 2013 Posted June 25, 2013 (edited) Ellen, sorry to hi-jack your topic, but do you mind if I post this "Mormon artist"? Talk about making a statement! What do people think on this board, did he go too far? https://www.jonmcnau...IsADisease.htmlOops, if this is too political, please disregard. Edited June 25, 2013 by Tacenda
EllenMaksoud Posted June 25, 2013 Author Posted June 25, 2013 Ellen, sorry to hi-jack your topic, but do you mind if I post this "Mormon artist"? Talk about making a statement! What do people think on this board, did he go too far? https://www.jonmcnau...IsADisease.htmlOops, if this is too political, please disregard.What if you don't fit the boxes? Some people think that you can classify people into two or three categories. In some ways I am quite anti war, but pressed to it can out shoot most people. Does that make me a liberal, or what? I am seeing the damage that public entitlements do to our country, but I was a recipient of them for a while. A certain group in our church would like to use me as a stalking horse. They were quite incensed to find that the only agenda I support is that of Heavenly Father. In no wise do I consent to be an activist. Some are very disappointed that I ain't ready to make nice to certain religious groups. They don't know what happened to me in their tender care.Sorry to disappoint people
Tacenda Posted June 25, 2013 Posted June 25, 2013 What if you don't fit the boxes? Some people think that you can classify people into two or three categories. In some ways I am quite anti war, but pressed to it can out shoot most people. Does that make me a liberal, or what? I am seeing the damage that public entitlements do to our country, but I was a recipient of them for a while. A certain group in our church would like to use me as a stalking horse. They were quite incensed to find that the only agenda I support is that of Heavenly Father. In no wise do I consent to be an activist. Some are very disappointed that I ain't ready to make nice to certain religious groups. They don't know what happened to me in their tender care.Sorry to disappoint peopleHow's the writing going?
EllenMaksoud Posted June 25, 2013 Author Posted June 25, 2013 How's the writing going?Exercising my Avoidance Disorder quite liberally. This may take years.
Tacenda Posted June 25, 2013 Posted June 25, 2013 (edited) Exercising my Avoidance Disorder quite liberally. This may take years.Darn, probably too late for me then. I have a friend who lost his job recently and it prompted him to finish a children's book, he's trying to get it published. According to his wife he wouldn't let anyone read it until it was finished. Can't wait. Also, I have a sis in law who belongs to a writer's group and she has been able to get a book published, a small one, now I can't remember the name, and it sells at the Deseret Bookstore. Have you thought about doing this? When I read her FB, it appears that some of her friends write science fiction novels. Is there a group like that in Oregon?ETA: Ran Out Of Posts, dagnabit!Ellen, that story, or your story needs to be told, it doesn't have to be anything other than what you want it to be. It doesn't have to go into a religious store either. I would be very interested in it. I love biographies and autobiographies, but maybe yours will be fiction, sort of. I wish I had the ability, or an interesting life, haha. Edited June 25, 2013 by Tacenda
EllenMaksoud Posted June 25, 2013 Author Posted June 25, 2013 Darn, probably too late for me then. I have a friend who lost his job recently and it prompted him to finish a children's book, he's trying to get it published. According to his wife he wouldn't let anyone read it until it was finished. Can't wait. Also, I have a sis in law who belongs to a writer's group and she has been able to get a book published, a small one, now I can't remember the name, and it sells at the Deseret Bookstore. Have you thought about doing this? When I read her FB, it appears that some of her friends write science fiction novels. Is there a group like that in Oregon?I am in such a group. Oddly, I have not written anything of significance since I was baptized. Before that I privately published about two dozen stories in around 6 years; relatively prolific. I've really had to re-examine my motives for writing this latest story, because some people really did some awful things to me, so the book was going to be sort of a "Mommy Dearest" book. Now, it seems clear that perhaps to write such a book would damage my witness, and my relationship with Heavenly Father, so now I have to determine the way to write the story in a loving way. It sort of feels like a survivor of the Hiroshima bomb trying to write good things about WWII.
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