Jump to content
 Share

7 Comments

Recommended Comments

  • Site Moderator
  • Popular Comment
drpaladin

drpaladin 109,639
Zorro

Posted

  • Site Moderator
  • Popular Comment

It is unnecessary to use coarse speech to be firm.

  • Like 6
  • Fingers Crossed 1
  • Popular Comment
Bill W

Bill W 61,941
Inspired

Posted

  • Popular Comment

"Coarse" (early 15c., cors) originated as an adjective derived from the noun course ("a running, journey, or regular procedure"), likely meaning "ordinary" or "common".  It originally described rough, common cloth used for everyday wear, with the meaning shifting by the 16th century it was used to describe someone lacking refinement (crude, uncultured, unsophisticated), including using vulgar or obscene speech/manners.

According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the earliest known use of the adjective coarse is in the Middle English period (1150-1500), with the earliest evidence dating back to 1424.  The noun coarseness was first used in 1540, and the adverb coarsely was first recorded in 1548.  

  • Like 6
  • Popular Comment
Bill W

Bill W 61,941
Inspired

Posted

  • Popular Comment

Coarseness—defined in storytelling as the inclusion of raw, gritty, or unflinching details, including strong language or harsh realism—is crucial for fostering authenticity, increasing reader immersion, and creating relatable, deeply flawed characters. While clarity and structure are necessary to keep a story moving, adding "coarse" or gritty elements ensures the narrative avoids being sanitized, boring, or artificial. 

Key aspects of the importance of coarseness in storytelling include: 
Authenticity and Realism: Using raw language or addressing uncomfortable topics helps make a story feel authentic and alive. It serves to ground the narrative in a tangible, believable reality rather than an idealized, sterile world. 
Developing Flawed Characters: Characters that are "riddled with human... flaws" are more engaging than perfect ones, as they nurture conflict and foster reader empathy. A "coarse" or flawed character—one with rough edges—often drives the plot more effectively than a perfect one. 
High-Stakes Tension: Rougher, grittier scenes help build necessary tension. If a story has no "trouble," the stakes feel low and readers may lose interest. 
Subverting Expectations: Introducing unexpected, intense, or strange elements can shake up a story that feels "stuck in a rut," adding depth and preventing a "sugar-coated" or predictable tone. 
Reader Immersion: A well-placed, gritty detail can act as a "punch in the nose," forcing the reader to engage immediately with the scene's emotional truth rather than remaining a distant observer. 
 
Balance is Key: 
While necessary, an excessive reliance on coarse language or gratuitous gritty details can backfire, making the writing appear as though it is "trying too hard," causing a loss of credibility.  The goal is to use these elements with purpose to enhance the story's emotional impact, not just to shock. 
  • Like 7
Paladin

Paladin 19,121
Relieved

Posted

Years ago i had a friend who taught in a teacher training degree. He always started his first session by asking the students to think of a high school  teacher they admired and write down what it was about that teacher that they admired. He collected the responses to collate, graph and use in future lessons. All sounds good, but this particular year one of his students wrote that what they admired about their high school teacher was "his knowledge of the coarse." Of course, they would!

  • Haha 5
ReaderPaul

ReaderPaul 20,604
Question It

Posted

19 hours ago, drpaladin said:

It is unnecessary to use coarse speech to be firm.

Usually this is true.  However, there are some few persons who require stronger language to get the message....

  • Haha 4
  • Site Moderator
drpaladin

drpaladin 109,639
Zorro

Posted

  • Site Moderator
1 hour ago, ReaderPaul said:

Usually this is true.  However, there are some few persons who require stronger language to get the message....

Two by four's work too.

  • Haha 4

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...