The Craft and The Story - Fantasy World Building

If anyone actually reads this blog, you likely already know what this word means. The Battlestar Galactica expletive is widely known, and, from what I've heard, quite well liked. It's quick, to the point, can be muttered under one's breath or yelled with a booming voice... Hell, it's basically a safe substitute for the F word. And that's why I hate it.

To curse or not to curse is a question every world-builder is confronted with at one point or another. Or, more specifically, to create their own cuss words or to use plain old boring English ones. There are many reasons to convince a writer to spare the time to invent their own, but there are also a plethora of pitfalls that can turn otherwise strong writing into an embarrassing, hackneyed mess. It can help immerse a reader into the imaginary world. It can even work so well as to have your reader whispering it to themselves unconsciously while at work! Of course, it can also backfire and leave the reader grumbling real oaths over the quality, or lack thereof, of the writing.

First, let me just repeat that corny fantasy curse words can break my suspension of disbelief in a science-fiction or fantasy world unlike anything else. As such, I want to begin by mentioning the dangers of it, starting with what I just said; breaking that spell, that suspension of disbelief that is oh-so important for a fantasy writer to keep a reader under. Having an otherwise dark and serious character mutter an oath that reads outlandishly is an obvious recipe for this. I am sure you have at least one or two examples of oaths in fantasy that had you sit back and furrow your brow for a moment before continuing. Unless you're going for pure shock value, you likely don't want your reader coming out of their spell, and a bad cuss that sticks out like a cliche of a sore thumb will do this.

Another pitfall to avoid, as always, is the common cliche. "By the gods" may be an oldie and a goodie, but it's been done so many times over the decades that to have it in your world is a sure sign of just not trying hard enough. Religious oaths by themselves are not to be avoided, but if people start to wonder if they're not reading a book written by Robert E. Howard because of the amount of "By Crom!" references scattered throughout it, it may be a sign to come up with some fresh ideas.

If I may return to my Battlestar Galactica reference from the beginning of this article, one thing that really stands out to me above all the rest on my list of fantasy curse word annoyances: euphemisms. If the only reason for a curse word's existence is to soften the blow of the F word or some other already existing cuss, than what's the point? An expletive is meant to have punch to it, or at least some meaning. A reader will sense words that have been created merely for the sake of not having to use actual curses quite easily. Either go all the way and create your own, or use ones already existing in the English language. Don't go half-way.

Now, it's not all negatives. There are many positives to go with creating your own cusses. So many, in fact, that I recommend their creation, as long as they're true to your world, and as long as they're good. One of the reasons for this is actually the opposite of what a bad oath can do; a good one can actually assist in suspending a reader's state of disbelief. On Earth, our curses are shaped by our own cultures, what we value, and what we consider taboo. Over the years, as our societies have changed, some curses have become less offensive, while some have still remained as shocking as ever to hear directed at us, or even gotten more so. As you world-build, it will likely be no different for those people that populate your imagination. If they consider skin lesions like scars as ugly and taboo, than perhaps that can be incorporated into a unique expletive. There's also nothing wrong with having religious oaths if your world is full of good god-fearing folk. One of my favorites is Steven Erikkson's use of "Hood's gate". Just make it original.

Grit. Yes, it takes far more than some ale swilling, bar talking scoundrels to make a fantasy world gritty, but some well placed, dark oaths can really help it along. Depending on their severity, and how those in your world react to their utterance, it can also help define characters.

In passing, I'd also like to mention accessibility. Depending on the type of story you're writing and the world you're creating, you may not want to have actual English cuss words scattered throughout your text. Creating lighter, funnier ones can be a good way to get children involved without bothering their parents or dirtying up their mouths. That being said, if you're targeting children, don't just replace existing curse words describing bodily excretions with things like Shlop. Actually make the curses different and apply to your creation.

Whatever your decision, to include cursing, to not include it, or to just use English, show it, don't only tell it. Too much science-fiction and fantasy simply inserts curse words without showing the reaction of other characters to hearing it. Cursing offends some. Although I can't stand the writing of a certain man that will go unnamed, his use of the oath "Bags!" is done very well, as those people around the character that utters it often reprimand him for doing so in front of children. His world acknowledges its existence.

In the end, if it fits your world and the people that live there, and it is true to them, than go ahead and include it. Just make it original!