I have read a lot of books on and off the Christian market that all have differing levels of violence. Since I am sadly very insensitive to violence, and have written some violence in some short stories I have on Smashwords, I have often wondered if I was maybe going too far. And I wonder if any of you have struggled with the same question, so I thought this might make a good discussion.

I don't believe in perverted violence as ever being acceptable, as I am sure you don't, but I am curious, how much violence do you think is too much? And furthermore, as Christians, how much violence should we allow in our writing?

Penny for your thoughts?

Good topic. A little bit of this subject is covered in the Torture thread, I think. You may like to look there as well.

I think the amount of violence contained in one's writing should be measured by how much is really necessary. If I were writing a battle scene that I wanted to be as authentic as possible, a lot of violence would probably be essential to making the writing tangible. In this case however, I would not make the violence the focal point of the writing, but merely describe as the scene progresses. As a soldier would probably glance around a scene of war and take in the sights, would probably be how I would display it in writing. Brief snatches of descriptions here and there, not dwelling on a specific target or going over it in explicit detail.

However, if it is necessary for the plot's sake to go into detail - such as, the soldier dying a horrific death was the MC's best friend - then a bit more gore would probably be required to add to the realism and emotion of the scene.

A lot of violence isn't something I have had a great deal of practise writing, but those are a few of my thoughts.

I'll have to check out the other thread, and those are some good thoughts. Thanks, BushMaid.

I know violence in something I'm reading is going too far when my stomach churns, and I think, "I didn't know you could do that to a person. I didn't think that was possible."
Know what I mean?

I'm quite sensitive when reading torture scenes, violence and the like. However when writing violence I can probably go further than what I could read comfortably myself. Weird, isn't it. I also think it depends who your audience is. So if you're writing for adults you could put in more violence than if you were writing for children.

Poor Elanor had a hard time with some of my book.

While I didn't have any problem with the scene you posted in the Torture thread. (I did have a problem with a couple scenes in there, though.)

Who was that comment directed at, Aemi?

So, to further the conversation: what comprises a stomach-churning scene for you? Any specifics? (blood, instruments of violence, amount of it, etc)

Also, what would be a good standard to put a difference between being realistic and needless flights of imagination?

Frankly, I'm curious.

(By the way I know exactly what you mean.)

You. (Sorry.)

Blood? No. Instruments of violence? Um, I don't know.
I think what has done it for me is amputation. Body parts are not supposed to come off, so that often bothers me. I really have not read very violent books, though. What I've read is the Torture Thread. So, I'm sorry, but I can't think of any real specifics.

Ok, thanks. I have read a lot of books that contained strong violence but few that involved amputation. I'm just trying to collect opinions here and provoke thought, specifics aren't required. Thanks for joining the discussion!

Oh, and head injuries creep me out.
The sound of bones breaking or popping out of place creeps me out, too. *shudders*

Injuries don't bother me so much as torture. However, I haven't yet read any violence in books that has been so much that I've had to put it down.

The violence was part of what made me put "The Unseen" by Mr. L. Uke down. It just was too...creepy, I guess.

[off-topic]Everybody's talking about that book... I really need to read it. * ponders if I can convince mum to buy a book involving 'ghosts' *[/off-topic]

I have a hard time discerning when there's too much violence while I'm writing, I think. So I tend to try and avoid really violent scenes, so I don't end up creeping out my reader. Of course, I've been naughty and not obeyed my own "don't write really violent scenes" rule lately anyways.

Same goes for when I'm reading, because it's really hard to creep me out or scare me or gross me out or any of that. I've read books that my mum still can't read. (She's used to it by now...) I got my dad's resilience to thriller and horror books, methinks.

Television is slightly different though, I do have a limit to what I can see, because in that instance, I'm not in control of what I hear and see, it's all handed to me, unlike when I'm reading and I can control my imagination.

Ah... I don't if that made sense, but oh well...

Yes, that makes sense. If you're reading it, and you come to a violent part, you can put a block in your imagination, and skim over the part, while if it's in a movie, all you can do is close your eyes.

(Have you ever had a dream where a really bad movie was playing loudly and it wouldn't turn off?)

Another question, can we use things that disturb us to further a meaning in our story? Do you think there is a right and a wrong way to use strong (or intensely disturbing) violence?

This will probably come down to a matter of opinion, but this is a discussion, that's what it's for.

What say you?

Oh, got it. You were saying that Elanor had issues, whereas you did not.

Actually, I don't think the scene (which is very outdated) that is in the torture thread bothers Elanor. I think it was a death scene in my book, and a scene at the end, which bothered her.

*can't wait to read Airi's book*

I believe that it is always more important to pay attention to the emotions, than to the actual violence. What is the relationship between the torturer and the tortured? How does the tortured character feel about what is happening to him? What does the torture make him think about himself?
And then, does the reader care about the person who's being hurt? Does the scene make the reader cry, or just squirm?

Not exactly an answer, but something to keep in mind.

You might find a lot of insight into this question - as I have - from one of the latest HW podcasts, MadeFree. You can see it here, if you like.

Oh I'm so excited it was helpful, Aussie!!!

Oh it was! Most definitely! I was sitting here with my earphones in, and every now and then I'd go, "Mmmm! ... Yeah!!!" And my siblings were "Huh? ".

*laughs *

I think I only skipped one part, which was a torture scene. I just find it hard to read anything about torture, I guess. I must have a vivid imagination in that area.

Ah! Got it. I am very visual myself.