: Re: Where to draw the line between bloody and purely repulsive? Violence and gore are an integral part of my story. However, I can usually keep the focus on the emotions, and the reactions, rather

Nothing should be in your writing unless it serves the larger story. It doesn't matter how cool a concept or a character is, if it isn't creating the experience you want for your reader, out it goes.

I think you've answered your own question in a certain way. If your aim is to show how distressing this character is --within the story! --then show that through his impact on the people around him. The things that are often most disturbing in fiction are the things kept mostly offstage, so that the audience uses their own imagination. Instead, you can build up this character's horrifying reputation among the other characters, and just give little glimpses to the readers. Write the full scene, if you must, but keep it as backstory. It doesn't have to go on the final page. (Going full-out isn't just disturbing, it also runs the risk of tipping the balance and becoming unintentionally laughable.)

If you, the writer, just want to indulge in a gratuitous bloodbath, AND force the reader through it, that's your right, but you may lose most of your audience. Or not --Game of Thrones is notoriously brutal, and while I could personally never stomach it, it certainly didn't lack for fans.

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: Re: Where to draw the line between bloody and purely repulsive? Violence and gore are an integral part of my story. However, I can usually keep the focus on the emotions, and the reactions, rather

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: How do I find an expert to help with theological science fiction writing? I am in the process of writing a theological science fiction novel. My interest in this genre is motivated by reading

: Shall I put "implemented" on the end or in the middle of sentence? Which sentence is correct? a) While there is considerable attention given to business controls, we identified lack of audit

: Do the references need to be in sequential order with the chapters? I am writing a non-fiction book. I am not writing the chapters sequentially e.g. the first chapter first and then second

: Can I use abbreviations in a manuscript? When writing a book manuscript, what is the proper way to write something like Main Street? Is it OK to use Main St? If I use the abbreviation, is

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