Profanity in Chick Lit?

Is this a no-no or do you think it's ok?

For some reason, in my mind, my MC tends to swear A LOT and I'm wondering if I should have a talk with her or just let it go.....

That was going to be one of my next questions. What I want to write is a bit chick-lit-y, but now as the idea forms in my head, it seems to be morphing into something that kind of... breaks the boundaries of what chick lit is.

If it's authentic to your character, then I don't see why not. I mean, look at Bridget Jones (my chick-lit heroine) she drops the f-bomb quite a bit (in the book and the movie). As long as it's not every other word out of her mouth I think you're good.

I agree, as long as it's in character and not just for the heck of it.

It should be necessary, like they've said. Also, if it's really bothersome to you, you can always say "she swore at the cat as he tore across her lap" or speak of the "profanities raining from her mouth" every once in a while so you're novel's not littered in four letter words. But, personally, I LOVE when a character swears.

I like it,too, as long as it's keeping with the character. I have one who is going to be cussing, but doesn't use traditional cuss words. She thinks she is clever (she isn't but don't tell her, k?)

go for it as long as it is what your character would say

I will be using profanity with one of my characters, maybe 2. it is just fitting their personalities

Dude, my main character has a mouth like a sailor. It's a minor plot point. Her husband gives her crap about it all the time. I think it's funny. I swear, all my friends swear, and frankly I don't trust people who have so much self control that they DON'T swear.

My MC is a southerner totally out of her element in Boston, so she's surrounded by laid back artists, lesbians, and trust fund babies who have no real rules (two are huge potheads, one is a 30-something lawyer, two are a lesbian couple who go by the joint name of "Toni Collette") and she's totally not used to the swearing, the smoking, the openness... It's going to be fun :)

I think if it fits the character, then go for it! Some of the best chick lit novels I've read have been true to life...however, I'm a bit of a wuss whom doesnt swear much in life, so I'll be going for the 'oh botheration! Oh flip!" route for the most part!

I'm writing in spanish, so cussing is a must. You cannot be a normal spanish person, even a very well educated and posh one, and not use swear words in every second sentence. If it's her character, use them.

If your character would watch any science fiction, you could also make her use "frak" as a substitute for the f word. Even President Roslin used that! :-)

If it's a really sassy character, then swearing seems totally within reason.

In my opinion, there's nothing wrong with swearing in chick lit. Chick lit is fiction about women written for women. Real women swear so it makes sense that characters would too.

Ladies, I love you. I am English and my foul mouthed sweary main character is SHOCKING ME TO THE CORE with the things she says. It's making me laugh a lot. I also laughed out loud at some of the replies above and am particularly fond of the phrase "son of a one eyed cracker" which I fully intend to use in my day job tomorrow - or if not, in my novel if that's OK jjsigford - xx

I'm drawing the line at the C-word. I want to put it in thee, but I'm too chicken.

Just got the phrase "son of a one eyed cracker" into my novel - whoop!

My 4 MCs are based on real women, and 3 out of 4 of them swear like a mother -. Haha. But that's how the real women are, the fourth only occasionally because that's how her real life counterpart is. To me the f-word has become just another descriptive word. I use it not just in emotional moments but constantly in regular conversation, much to the chagrin of my mother. And I agree with the other commenters who said they like when they see profanity in books. It frustrates me when I read a scene or conversation between two characters and I feel like the author (or possibly the editor) won't let the characters say what they should be saying in that moment.
If it's right for the character, do it. And anyone who says otherwise... tell to go "frick" themselves.

I don't mind a few thrown in, but chick lit with frequent profanity or random sex scenes make me stop reading. I think it depends on the story and what's expected. If I'm reading Chelsea Handler's books, I except some profanity and such. If I'm reading a fluffy fun or light chick lit book about a summer at the beach, I don't want to hear sailor talk.

In real life, I'm perhaps a bit more crass. :)

hahaha this thread is gold.

And yes, I agree. If it's your character, do it. I mean, one day if you try to publish and editor might ask that you trim it down. Much easier to trim down than up I think.