Friday, June 12, 2009

Wright Words: Spic and Span Fiction

My latest syndicated column. Enjoy!

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Wright Words: Spic and Span Fiction

When I'm not writing, I'm often reading. There are so many incredibly talented authors out there that I consider the local Barnes and Noble to be a writer's university. New ideas about composition, character development, point of view, and the other aspects of telling a good story occur to me while reading someone else's good work.

I never deliberately copy another writer's style or incorporate elements of a novel I read into a novel I write. I just expect that what I read and what I write will sort of mix in my subconscious and give me a richer palette the next time I set out to paint a story.

Lately, some of what I've been reading has taught me something that I have resolved not to do. Ever.

Mark the date and save this text. I will never use foul, crude, disgusting language or create explicit images of sex or graphic violence.

That statement probably doesn't surprise people who know me personally or even just know a lot about me. I was raised in a family and culture where purity of thought, speech, and action are moral issues. Here is a surprise for you, though. My values and beliefs are part of the reason I won't write from the gutter but the main reason is something much more worldly.

I want people to buy my books. I want them to read one and then go out and buy all of the other ones. I want them to tell all of their friends about the great new writer they discovered.

The question I have asked and answered is this: who is more likely to be offended, the reader who has to wade through prose that she finds offensive or the one who is disappointed that the book doesn't include a good sex scene?

For hundreds of years, authors found ways to write about every aspect of life. Any fundamental conflict, tense or romantic situation, or other intense scene that a modern writer describes with crude language has a similar version written with clean, carefully chosen words.

My first novel, The James Miracle , includes a horrible car accident, several heated arguments and tense family scenes.

Christmas Jars is about an abandoned baby who grows up to lose the woman who raised her. She is robbed, cheated, betrayed, and suffers another terrible personal loss.

The siblings in The Wednesday Letters argue and reconcile and deal with the death of their parents without saying anything much cruder than “Shut up”. The book includes other intense scenes and physical confrontations that might have been “easier” to describe had I used vulgarity.

The most recent novel, Recovering Charles , manages - with polite language - to describe three romantic relationships, several arguments, and the death and destruction that Katrina inflicted on New Orleans .

There is obviously a market for R-rated books and I have nothing against those who write them. But this writer hopes to make a living sticking with PG material. I trust my readers to use my words to build mental images that they find appropriate. I'm certainly not the only “clean” writer in the industry, but, if I were, that would be OK with me.

What do you think? Am I a prude pushing my standards on my readers? Have you ever put down a book because it was too vulgar? Too clean? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

20 comments:

  1. To see what the market was like, I picked up a novel at the supermarket. Intriguing story line, but the novel was bad. In fact, it was worse than bad. Wooden, stereotyped characters. Stilted writing. Accelerated and totally predictable plot for the last 40 pages. Gratuitous sex and hints of gratuitous sex (but no violence, interestingly enough).

    And yes, it eventually found its way onto the NYT best-seller list.

    I've read The Wednesday Letters, the Christmas Jar and Recovering Charles. All three prove a point: stories told well don't need the sex, profanity and violence that drench popular culture.

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  2. I've always recommended your book to my entire family -- even my mother -- to whom dumb and stupid were swear words -- because they are clean. I think it's easy to use bad language or cheap scenes to get your point across. It takes thought and brains to write a clean book. And in the end I don't think you're pushing your values on anyone else, if they don't want to buy your books no one is making them!

    So, keep on writing, even if it's from a hotel down the street. We are anxiously waiting your next book at our house!

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  3. I have enjoyed your books. They make a person not want to put them down. They are about life and how things really can be sometimes. I can't wait till next spring so that I can read your new book. Keep up the great writing!

    I have been very disappointed while reading some other books. Just because of the blatant use of curse words that reallt didn't need to be included. I think that for most situations the writing can be altered to bring about the same emotions but not with such vulgar language.

    I was glad that I got to hear you at "Time Out for Women" in Sacramento. You have a reader for as long as you are writing books!!!

    Thanks!!!!!

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  4. I recommend your books for that very reason. I was so happy to see you at TOFW and went out and bought your books. It was so refreshing not to have to dig through the vulgarity. Your books have kept my attention and have made it so I tell others about them. I say keep on doing what you're doing because it works and I'll keep buying (of course you'll have to keep signing them because all of my books I have of yours are autographed, lol)

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  5. Just like I don't like hearing crude vulgar language in movies or TV shows, the same applies to books. There seems to be some type of contest concerning the use of the "F" word. Which movie can use it the most? Which TV show? Which book?

    Is that word really necessary? I don't think so.

    Sex scenes - do we really need every single action described?

    I'd much rather read a NICE book, one that I don't feel I need to carry in a brown paper bag when I go out in public. Keep up the good work.

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  6. I HAVE put a book down because it was too vulgar but never had to put one down because it was too clean. Your books are the best because not only are they wonderfully well-written but they are tasteful as well. I don't ever have to worry about reading something that will disgust or offend me. I can freely lend them to co-workers, my BOSS and above all...dear sweet Mom. :0) I say...stay true to who you are and God will continue to bless your work!

    As always...Rochelle :0)

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  7. Last Summer I read Wednesday letters and recommended it to everyone I met. I just finished Recovering Charles. I would describe your writing style in one word: comfortable. Comfortable like a friend's voice. Comfortable that there is no risk of polluting my mind with something I wish I hadn't read. Thanks for putting out such high quality writing and compelling stories!

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  8. The only reason I started reading your books is because it wasn't vulgar, offensive and explicit.

    Thank you for sticking to your standards and for making it a point to keep your books, PG.

    There's enough vulgarity and negativity in the world today.

    Keep writing Mr. Wright! You totally ROCK!!

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  9. "For hundreds of years, authors found ways to write about every aspect of life. Any fundamental conflict, tense or romantic situation, or other intense scene that a modern writer describes with crude language has a similar version written with clean, carefully chosen words."

    Right there. THAT is why I love your books. It's called class. And it's very much appreciated.

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  10. I have long had the opinion that it actually takes intelligence to write a book, a movie/play script or a song without any vulgarity. When someone chooses to go for the quick and easy when dealing with senstive topics it just shows their laziness and unintelligence.

    I also think, on a personal level, your life is dampened by vulgarity. The spirit will actually tell you to stop reading the garbage and will leave if you choose to ignore it.

    Up lifting books, like The Christmas Jar, feeds the soul and uplifts - a pretty easy and handy way to tell if something is worth my time or not.

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  11. I Loved Recovering Charles. I couldln't put it down. I agree with the others. Your books have class! It is so nice not to worry about what is on the next page, or if the kids pick up the book. I think that you can tell a story and have all the intrigue and mystery with out foul language and sex. Thanks for sticking to your ideals. Keep it up, we need more like you.

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  12. I think that your writing style is perfect. I love reading your books. I prefer not to read about sex and vulgarity, I don't live like that so I'd rather not read like that. I don't know that I've put down a book for being too vulgar, but I leave that reading experience feeling less satisfied because of it. I've not ever put down a book for being too clean and never would. I would love to read The James Miracle (but cannot find it) and can't wait for the new book! Thank you for following your conscience.

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  13. Thank you! It's nice to know that authors like you feel it is important to keep the sleaze out of true art! I loved reading Wednesday Letters by the way.

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  14. "Pushing your ideas on someone" I think requires a stronger sense of aggressiveness that I'm pretty sure is not your forte'. I have spoke with you and been to your talk and your talents are more along the line of charisma and humor. In my opinion you have a talent much like Alma the Younger, he like you could inspire or deceive. But you unlike he has always chose to use your talents to edify and inspire. Keep pressing....

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  15. I just completed The Wednesday Letters....Bravo! I prefer the imagination and patience with which you employ to develop your stories, rather than the graphic methods that tend to desensitize the reader to same.

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  16. You know that I read Christmas Jars to my seventh-grade students and they absolutely loved it. I didn't have to worry one bit about the content, and the life lesson that they gained from it was huge. Isn't this the type of literature that we want our young folks reading?
    I hope you never second-guess why you write the way you do. In my opinion, it takes much more talent to weave a great story without the bad language and raunchy sex scenes. I'll read your work any day - you know I'm a devoted fan!

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  17. I have read The christmas Jar, The Wednesday Letters and just finished Recovering Charles.
    It is a pleasure to read a book that is not full of sex or vulgar language. It just proves that a good story can be told without all that extra junk in it. I have and will continue to recommend your books to everyone! Keep up the good work! I look forward to the next one!

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  18. I just finished The Wednesday Letters and loved it so much I am now making my husband read it as well!

    Thank you for choosing to Honor God and your readers by keeping your work clean and appropriate. I feel as though I can recommend all of your books to everyone i know without worrying about offending them and in this day and age that is saying something.

    God Bless you as you continue to write.

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  19. Jason, I am Eric's sister...he has given us each of your books, signed (thank you!) and we love them all...I LOVE knowing I can read a book and not worry if my kids want to read it. It DOES take talent to write as well as you do without using the extra "easy" worldly stuff. We enjoy your style and your stories...Keep up the good work and THANK YOU!!!

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  20. Your point is fine and quite respectable and I agree that many writers misuse vulgarity and explicitness in gratuitous ways. However, your readers should keep in mind 2 things: One, some facets of life experience are intense, shocking, vulgar, and frightening, and creatively "safe and clean" language is limiting to writers looking for the best way to portray that intensity; Two, to denounce vulgarity in an art form, takes on the political aura of those wishing to cover up classic nude sculptures and paintings. It actually defaces the art form and the moral sensibility behind this mentality diminishes all art and carries with it a sense of bigotry and prejudice that lowers the rest of us to sewer rats. There is beauty in nakedness, as there is in violence and vulgarity - if done right. You may elevate the gangster film with sophisticated language and achieve "The Godfather", but you cannot do it without graphic violence, otherwise you disguise the force behind that story that needs to be told and to "flower" it up with too many poetic constructs results in pretentious rubbish. Actually I prefer "Goodfellas" - to the point and more realistic. Conversely, a poetic and moral gangster film (isn't that an oxymoron?) is safe but extremely boring - utterly forgettable and a waste of time. I am so happy to see artists like Scorsese and Tarantino create tapestries of violence, accurately depicting the intensity of certain life stories. It is good to see that power sometimes. To put it in social terms: those who cannot bear to hear vulgarity or watch nude forms, are often seen as the most boring people on earth - afraid to take risks and truly experience something powerful. Keep in mind that when the Bard was writing his body of work, it was considered to be very violent, but edgy, and very saucy. Thank God for him.

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