Heidi McCrary

When Characters Say Bad Things…

Is it ever okay to use the F bomb in your writing?

After the publication of my first novel, I excitedly went on the author tour, meeting with appreciative readers at local libraries and other facilities to read from my novel and share anecdotes.

A woman sitting at a desk, looking surprised and covering her mouth with her hand while using a laptop.

During the usual Q&A at one such appearance, a women rose from her seat and introduced herself as the mother of a childhood friend of mine. As she told me how much she liked the book, she paused for a moment before saying she was also disappointed in me. With raised eyebrows, I listened as she explained that she was sorry that I felt the need to include swear words in the book.

“Ah, yes,” I replied. “I have a feeling I know what word you’re specifically talking about. I actually used the word twice in dialogue. I didn’t use it lightly. I felt that the scene warranted the reaction of the characters, and was necessary for realism.” I thought for a moment, because I didn’t want to discredit her concern, and I appreciated her honestly. “I do understand that you may not appreciate it, and I hope you are able to look beyond it.” I didn’t know what else to say, so I thanked her for her comment and moved on.

Are swear words necessary in novels? It’s a fair question, and I believe the answer is, “Yes, when it moves the story along in a realistic fashion and is true to the character’s situation and reaction.”

I recently read a bestseller that contained the F bomb casually throughout the pages, and curious, I went to the Amazon reviews to see if readers had an issue with it’s liberal usage. Turns out, a fair percentage of reviewers did indeed cringe at the number of times profanity appeared, and some even stopped reading the book.

While I don’t pretend to take any moral high ground, my question of whether to use profanity is more of a business question. Does the inclusion of swear words diminish sales? It’s a real question that authors have to ask themselves, and it’s a balancing act between being authentic in writing and character development, and wanting to sell books.

As I finish the manuscript for my second novel, I am comfortable with the true language spoken by my characters, and I’m just going to have to stand there and take it when my childhood friend’s mother stands before me and tells me she’s disappointed in me, yet again.

F*ck!

Author of Chasing North Star and the upcoming I’m Your Person

Heidi McCrary

Where are the Purse Hooks?

It was 1990-something, and I set my muffin down on the small café table as I joined my husband in this cozy bakery located in the midst of The Magnificent Mile in Downtown Chicago, celebrating our wedding anniversary. As we took our seats, I hung my purse on the back of my chair. When we finished, I grabbed my handbag and noticed it was now open, no longer holding my Ralph Lauren sunglasses, a gift I received from my husband an hour earlier, or my wallet, which held a vacation-weekend full of cash and credit cards. So many credit cards.

It was the last time I ever threw my purse on the back of a chair in a restaurant.

Every woman can relate to this. No man has ever stressed over where to put his wallet when sitting down at the bar, which might explain why it’s still an issue today in the majority of eating establishments. The answer is the simple purse hook, yet, so many bars still don’t have them, and I’ve yet to see purse hooks available for tables. No woman wants to put her handbag on the floor, and tables rarely offer enough space. My sister bought me a purse hook that I now keep in my purse, and it’s a godsend.

Pictured, are purse hooks adorning a bar in The Grey Rabbit, a beautiful art gallery and lounge in Grand Rapids. I wish I could thank the woman who insisted they be installed. Because we all know, as the bar was assembled, a woman asked, “Where are the purse hooks?”

Author of Chasing North Star, and the upcoming I’m Your Person.

Heidi McCrary

The Importance of Ruthless Editing

This is the greatest story ever told, I thought to myself as I sent the first draft of my manuscript off to my editor. The best writing since Hemingway. Surely, she’ll fix a couple of typos, telling me that she is sorry, but her services are simply not needed because my writing is flawless.

Of course, it wasn’t.

But the truth is, if you’re sending off your manuscript, not thinking that the editing feedback will be minimal and kind, you’re a better person than me.

A good editor fixes typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies. A great editor rips your manuscript apart, deletes one fourth of your copy, and questions character direction, dialogue, narrative, and pacing until it feels like you’ve been beaten senselessly.

Early in my career, I had a boss give me direction on handling employees in need of guidance. “Don’t sugarcoat it. Give it to them ruthlessly, and when you think they’ve finally had enough, tell them what they’re doing right, and pat them on the back before sending them on their way.” He was on to something.

Editorial feedback is just that … feedback. As a writer, you can argue that the editor doesn’t get it, and brush off the critique as simply a difference of opinions. Or you can realize the editor’s sole job is to get the best out of you. To make you dig deeper, start over. Make you question and reevaluate every word, phrase and description.

Following is an excerpt from my own editor on the manuscript I’m currently working on…

You have the plot and structure down; you have done great work to begin mining the wonderful web of emotionality you’ve woven within that plot and between your cast of characters, and now, in revision, you’ll have the opportunity to dig even deeper to bring the true story into the light. And trust me—that’s the place where, as an author, you want to be.

And trust me, this editor was brutal. As I began writing the second draft, the edits initially felt overwhelming, but as I continued, I quickly found the rhythm of the direction, and my writing consumed me, everything in my life taking a backseat until I finished.

Do I think my revised manuscript is now the greatest writing since Hemmingway?

Of course, I do.

The Retelling of Oz…

We all thought we understood the story of “The Wizard of Oz.” After Dorothy crash lands in Munchkin Land, she is told that only The Wizard can transport her back home. When she is finally granted an interview with him, he tells her he can help, but only if she kills the Wicked Witch of the West. After Dorothy surprises everyone by actually accomplishing her quest, The Wizard tries to renege on his promise, and it’s not until Toto pulls back the curtain, that Dorothy and the rest of us realizes that The Wizard is nothing more than a huckster. If we truly think about it, this is not a story about an evil witch, but rather a tale about an evil con man convincing a young woman to kill someone.

So, it begs the question … who really is the bad guy in this story? Cue the prequel…

“Wicked” follows the heartwarming and surprising friendship formed early on between the witches of Oz, long before Dorothy skips down the yellow brick road. Actresses Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande bring tenderness to a story that flips the narrative, giving hope to a tale that inevitably will end tragically for Elphaba, the so-called Wicked Witch. Meanwhile, actor Jeff Goldblum aces the role of the charming yet diabolical Wizard of Oz.

Make no mistake, “Wicked” is written and directed for today’s audience, with colorful costumes and sets similar to Barbie World, and a storyline reminiscent of “Mean Girls.” But “Wicked” is also the retelling of an old story … now told from a perspective that turns what we thought we knew, upside down.

Like its predecessor, “Wicked” is a charming mix of storytelling, colorful imagery and music. While this is the initial installment of a 2-part story, viewers can take solace that the ending of Part 1 is a satisfying intermission until the release of Part 2, coming out November 2025.

“Wicked” is available now on Amazon Prime.

By Heidi McCrary, author of “Chasing North Star,” available online wherever books are sold. You can follow Heidi at heidi@heidimccrary.net.