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Optional Monthly Question: In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?
I don’t like to think that there is any topic I’d be afraid to tackle but will admit that some subject matter simply doesn’t appeal to me. I also think it’s one thing to completely avoid certain material and another to find a different or more comfortable way to approach it than say “the norm”.
Rape is a topic I’ve written about without describing it. For some people, it’s important to describe things in vivid detail all the time, but sometimes you don’t have to and still manage to be compelling. There are other topics that I’m not likely to write about simply because I don’t want to, but that doesn’t mean I couldn’t.
When it comes to sexual content, I think I’m a bit more open, though I’ve not gone too steamy at this point. Even when it comes to reading mature content, which I’m ok with, I draw the line when there’s more than one graphic sex scene within a chapter, sometimes even having one a chapter is just too much. Some descriptions are unnecessary and seem to only serve the purpose of being shocking. Still, even if I did write something truly steamy, I still don’t think it would be considered profane. Some writers excel at writing shocking content that can be disturbing, visceral, or hyperrealistic. That’s not me and I’m okay with that. I like the idea of entertaining readers, not shocking them.
When it comes to language, I’m okay with profanity if it serves a purpose and seems real. Again, I admit that I’m more likely to read books with profanity than I am to write it (though too much is a turn off), still, I have put a few mature words in my stories when I felt it played well with either a character or the overall plot. I don’t think anything I write will ever be considered profane, but that’s just me. I have no problem with other writers writing what works for them.
On a side note, I recently listened to a podcast that stated there’s research that content warnings aren’t effective. They don’t help readers cope with the content, but can deter some readers, which in my opinion is a good thing. If someone doesn’t want to read certain content and they know upfront, that means that book is less likely to get a negative review because the reader was unnecessarily shocked or disturbed. Also, I feel like they could help other readers find the content they are looking for. Maybe someone wants to read something a little more intense than the norm. I’m all for content warnings. What do you think?
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IWSG BOOK CLUB ON GOODREADS
Member Spotlights
#iwsgbookclub
The books we’ve chosen to spotlight in the month of October are Already Home by Heather M. Gardner and Dragon of the Stars by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Please check these out and consider giving one or both of these a read this month. If you’re not up for reading them, no worries, you can still help spread some love for these publications and or participate in the book club activities.
My co-mods and I have done a lot of research into the books written by IWSG members to help facilitate the current direction the book club is taking. In the process, I’ve learned about how readers find and don’t find books by our members. So, I’ve put together some, hopefully, helpful tips I like to call…
Ways to Make Your Book(s) “Findable”
…and increase their chances to be featured and discovered.
2) Make sure you have a complete and up-to-date Amazon Author page unless you are opting not to sell on that site. You can also look into setting up profiles on other retail sites that allow that. I must admit, I’ve been meaning to get set up on Google Play and still haven’t done that yet. If a reader can’t find you on Goodreads, the next place they are likely to search will either be Amazon.com or Google.
P.S. It has come to the attention of the admins that there is a discrepancy between the members we are currently pooling from and the actual numbers of members to pool from. We are currently working on a registry system to fix this. Thank you all for your patience as we strive to give all IWSG members a chance to be featured.
Now, on to the personal updates.
I attended my first live event in over a year. It was simply a vendor table at an outdoor fair-type event. It was more fun than I’d expected but just as stressful as I’d imagined. I had a few moments where I felt dizzy from the rush, the commotion, and the heat. I was happy to have my husband there as a support.
After a year of forgetting what a profit feels like, it was nice to have a hefty wad to either blow on something extravagant or reinvest into my business. If only I could muster the nerve to do more of these events.
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So, where do you draw the line?
What are your thoughts on content warmings?
It may take some time, but I promise, I will eventually stop by your blog.
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After hanging out with Alex, be sure to stop by and visit this month’s co-hosts:
Jemima Pett,
J Lenni Dorner ,
Cathrina Constantine,
Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and
Mary Aalgaard!
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Click here to visit other IWSG blogs and sites to receive and share more inspiration and support. (This month, I’m #33).
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords #blacklivesmatter
33 replies on “#IWSG October 2021- Where do you draw the line?”
Hi,
I try to stay open and teachable. I’m not going to blast a book because it doesn’t meet my standards. I know a lot of people think love is messy. I do have a problem with that. In some of my books there are love scenes but not through out the book because intimacy is a part of loving and being loved.
Shalom aleichem
I’m with you. I try not to be negative even when a book rubs me the wrong way. I once beta read a book that did just than and tried to convince the author that I couldn’t finish it nor review it, but they still wanted a review. I was honest and expressed that while it wasn’t for me, it might be for someone else.
I think content warnings are good.
We did five events this year, which felt so good, and I wish there were more opportunities in this area. I’m glad yours was successful and you made money.
I think I will make a point to seek out more events next year.
Live events can be so much fun. I haven’t done one since 2019. My 1st one this year is in 2 weeks, and I’m looking forward to it. Good point about the Amazon Author Page. I always look for what else the author has written. Best wishes for a great month.
I hope your event goes well. Thanks for the well wishes.
Great update on the book club 🙂 I think content warnings will help readers find what they’re looking for. I’m going through a phase where I can’t handle every other word being profanity, so if I get a book like that, I’m more likely to be harsh in my review about the language — or even DNF if it gets too bad.
Ronel visiting for IWSG day as co-host The IWSG Goodreads Book Club
It’s tough, it doesn’t happen ofter, but I too have DNFed a book because of language.
Awesome about the live event!
Excited to see my book as this month’s feature.
Me too. I love the Cassa Series but Dragon of the Stars blew me away.
Great job with the Book Club, Toi! I’m enjoying the new features.
I’m so glad to hear that. We’re working really hard on it.
Yes, you are writing for an adult audience who you expect to be able to cope with life. I like that.
Interesting thoughts on content warnings. I think they are good to help people not invest in a book they don’t want to read. Yes, a warning should help some people NOT buy it. And who knows – some people may get it because of the content warning, because they are ‘happy’ with a book that contains whatever it is. I’ve given feedback to a publisher of at least one of my Netgalley reads that it needs a content warning. Unfortunately I read it before realising…I still wish I hadn’t.
Happy IWSG day, Toi.
Jemima
Thanks for that, Jemima. I totally think content warnings are great for finding books and avoiding certain content.
I love the new direction of the book club! It is great that we are going to promote our own talented authors. I downloaded both books, but whether I’ll get them both read remains to be seen.
Content warnings are exactly as you describe – to give information to potential readers to make an informed decision.
I too am happy about the updated book club.
I’m absolutely for content warnings, more for the sake of parents and their kids. Content warnings help reduce censorship because then there’s no excuse for people to say that certain books on the market should be outlawed because parents don’t want their kids to come across and read them. Yet, I can use them for myself since I don’t like to waste my time reading shocksploitation (as they call it in the B movie niche) and therefore reading extreme gore or violence and such that the plot and/or characterization doesn’t call for.
I’m with you. I think they do help reduce censorship. It’s one thing to block anyone from seeing something that someone else might find offensive, it’s another to provide information allowing each person to decide what they want to read.
Love your post, I agree I think each character has to drive the language. So far I haven’t really thrown in the “F” bombs. And thanks for all the Book Club info! I would love to post the picture Book club pic with this month’s chosen books, was that sent out to everyone?
The image is usually included in the IWSG newsletter, but you can also source it from this post.
Wonderful blog post. I have never been to an author event like that. Maybe one day I will physically be able to do it.
It takes a lot of planning, at least for me, but they always seem to pay off as long as you have the right expectations.
So great that you were able to get out to a live event! I’ve not yet been able to pull that off, in part because I haven’t been home long enough to try! As for language, I think a lot depends on the expectation of your genre. I mostly write cozy mysteries, and one of the expectations is that they are “clean.” So I write them clean, which is good, because I totally can’t write steamy!
As for content warnings, I think they’re fine, but you never could address everyone’s needs. Sometimes a reader doesn’t know something’s a trigger until we see it… as when I was reading a mystery and there was a scene of breaking the news to the new widow. Maybe in a few more years I can read that. Not now. But it’s so specific, I’d never expect a warning.
You are right, you can’t cover everything in a content warning, but there are some general things I think people now expect from them.
I post content warnings because of the sexual and violent content. I don’t want anyone to be repulsed by what I write. I’m trying to keep up with the book club but doing a lousy job. I don’t use my phone for social media, and it’s held me back, but I just can’t get into it. My phone is only for robo-calls, it seems! LOL
Sorry for the late response. You don’t have to worry about keeping up with the book club. Join in anytime you have time or not. You don’t have to read the books to participate in the polls or the discussions. It’s just another way for us to support the community.
[…] Book Club Leader’s Blog: From Toi Tips to make your books findable for the team.Fellow Book Club Moderator’s Blog: From Ronel […]
I think there are ways to ‘suggest’ something has happened without writing it out in black and white. Sort of “Ancient Greek Theatre” style of never showing the violence on stage but maybe the results. I’m thinking of Oedipus Rex losing his eyes. In some ways for me that is more visceral as I’m afraid my imagination is sometimes more graphic than what might be put on a screen or a page.
Sorry for the late response. I agree. There are always more ways than one to show what’s happening.
Thank you for all the hard work you are doing for the IWSG book club!
And way to go on your event! That’s cool that you had some great success.
Sorry for the late response. I was a fun event. I’m having fun with the book club.
I pretty much agree with your take on the question this month, Toi. I can’t stand bad language if it’s gratuitous, or violence for that matter. I like/write sex scenes that concentrate on emotions, not body parts. To each his own. A couple of sex scenes per book I think is enough, not every chapter.
Sorry for the late response. Yes, to each his own. I think content warnings just help readers to be informed.