You Kiss Your Mother With That Mouth?

Psst. Hey buddy. Step a little closer so I don't have to speak too loudly. Blue-haired hunch-backed ladies might get their bloomers in a knot if they heard this conversation. Today we're talking about about swearing.

Recently I saw a movie that dropped "F" bombs as if it were D-Day. Really? Is that the current extent of creativity? Talk about pet words. Sheesh.

I admit a well-placed naughty word sometimes makes me smile. Is that sinful? Maybe. But let's set aside the swearing-is-wrong debate for the moment because there's another reason writers shouldn't use vulgarity.

It's lazy.

Popping in an F-this or F-that is easy and common. Coming up with a creative expletive is hard and will stick in a reader's mind much longer. And really, don't you want your story to linger in a reader's grey matter long after they've put the book down?

This morning I awoke to this comment on Facebook:

"I must hear "Sweet flying peacock!" ten times a day, 

ever since reading the Flannery and the oranges scene to Jonny last week. 

I think we have a new Griep fan in the making here."

Sure, I could've used S*#%! or F&^$! instead of sweet flying peacock, but would those words have had the same impact? Nope. 

So here's my challenge to you: think outside the box when it comes to exclamations this week, even in your everyday language. Go ahead. Surprise people. And feel free to share some of your favorite concoctions in the comment section.