The Worst Words Used in Spicy Writing

[Voboy]

I mean, that's all fair. It's nice that there are so many available words.

I guess I just think of "petals" as being needlessly melodramatic, in a "harlequin romance" sort of way. I dunno. I suppose "petals" is, indeed, better than "beef curtains" or "meatdrapes" or something like that.

 

[intim8]

You're right, most people wouldn't verbalize labia that way

I don't think many people IRL say "labia" either. But then, most people don't explicitly refer to those things over and over again in the same conversation. We do in narrative, so we need more flexibility.

But they do resemble flower petals and I think it's fine as imagery.

Maybe use "O'Keefian" once in a while.

 

[Djmac1031]

Just to demonstrate the juxtaposition of ideas on this, the woman in the video said several times she'd prefer the more clinical terms for parts of the anatomy..
labia, clitoris, vagina... over the more euphemistic terms like folds, nub and pussy.

But I've been told by readers they hate the clinical terms.

So... who do I listen to? hmmm...

 

[intim8]

But I've been told by readers they hate the clinical terms.

So... who do I listen to? hmmm...

I try to be character specific, at least in dialog or narration from a character's POV. It can say a lot about a character if they prefer clinical terms, or certain slang or euphemisms over others. "He tried to touch my privates" vs "he tried to grab my pussy" says a lot about the character speaking, without saying anything much differently about the person they're talking about. Even in narration rather than dialog, what words are used to describe the POV character's thoughts are part of the characterization.

The progression from clinical to slang-ey to raunchy in narration can also "show" an escalting intensity to the activities without having to describe it. "He liked the way her breasts looked under her shirt." Then later, "Her tits looked perfect to him."

 

[EmilyMiller]

Just to demonstrate the juxtaposition of ideas on this, the woman in the video said several times she'd prefer the more clinical terms for parts of the anatomy..
labia, clitoris, vagina... over the more euphemistic terms like folds, nub and pussy.

But I've been told by readers they hate the clinical terms.

So... who do I listen to? hmmm...

Your friends, hun

 

[karina_jayde]

Really not a fun of certain compound euphemisms. 'Baby-batter' as an alternative term for cum just makes me roll my eyes. I've also seen 'fuck-stick' and 'love-tool' as terms for a penis. Things like that can really take me out of a story. Sometimes people are so averse to word repetition that they end up using silly, distracting compound phrases.

 

[Duleigh]

I suppose "petals" is, indeed, better than "beef curtains" or "meatdrapes" or something like that.

I would hear "Meat Curtains" on my favorite show (MXC) and have no idea what Vic Ramano or Kenny Blankenship was talking about. Now I have to find it on video and re-watch every episode.

 

[CockSparrow]

A further thought:

When my late father was a young man (80-something years ago) he could tell you not just which part of the country someone came from, but which particular village, and all just from their accents and their choice of words. And then along came two world wars. And radio. And, towards the end of my father’s life, the internet. And it became difficult to tell someone who had grown up in Lower Swell from someone who had grown up in Church Westcott.

Writers with a finely-tuned ear generally try to give their characters appropriate vocabularies. And so if I tell you about a panty-wearing soccer-mom who, in her racier moments, refers to her husband’s ‘appendage’ as his ‘dick’, I have just told you something about that character. Except I am unlikely to describe such a woman. My character will likely by English. (Write what you know – or so the experts tell us.) My woman will more than likely wear knickers; know the round-ball game as football; and (perhaps) adore her husband’s cock. And, depending on where she sits in the social hierarchy, she may refer to her vulva as her twat, clunge, snatch, box, minge, vajayjay, cunt, or any one of a dozen or so other names. Interestingly, the further up the social ladder she is, the more likely she is to use cunt as her preferred word.

And because most of my stories are overtly or obliquely ‘narrated’, I will usually set the tone by giving the ‘narrator’ their own appropriate (or some would say inappropriate) vocabulary.

Just sayin’.

 

[Duleigh]

Clunge? Minge? I should look those up. My female characters know the round-ball game as basket ball.

 

[mildlyaroused]

I tend not to (or attempt not to) worry about specific words in erotica. The writing matters 10x more. I've read stories that use words I'd never have used or considered attractive myself, but the writing is good enough to carry me through the stories. Sometimes even good enough to give me an appreciation for their vocabulary, or for me to start using those new words. Similarly, I've read writing with all the words I'd ordinarily use that does nothing for me. Just try to build a consistent mood and avoid too much repetition.

 

[intim8]

Really not a fun of certain compound euphemisms.

They're great for comic relief, or to set a campy or snarky tone.

 

[kathyisgr65]

Saggy

 

[RoperTrace]

Not necessarily the best advice, and it is aimed at mainstream writers more than us smut mongers, but it's a fun video (7 minutes).

"You literally described a woman's upper crotchal region as a pile of fat, because that's the sexy way to go."

First legit LOL of the day and evening. So, I guess Love tunnel and Hershey avenue are out(Hershey highway-default words). Btw, these are actual places near my hometown.

 

[karina_jayde]

They're great for comic relief, or to set a campy or snarky tone.

Sure, but I've seen them in some pretty serious fantasy series, to include some non-con/dubcon. That goofy word choice can really clash in the wrong story.

 

[intim8]

dubcon

Does that mean "dubious consent"?

 

[Britva415]

Crotchal.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Does that mean "dubious consent"?

It’s like Comic Con, but with added rape.

Emily

 

[Bramblethorn]

Am I the only one who has a problem with "crotchal"?

 

[Not2Pervy]

This thread makes me want to try and invent a couple of new words and just pop them into a story. Anybody have any ideas?

 

[intim8]

This thread makes me want to try and invent a couple of new words and just pop them into a story. Anybody have any ideas?

"Vulvar region"
"Clitoral ridge"
"Cave"
"Tongue spelunking"

"Cannoli"
"Churro"
"Salty Custard/Flan"

Teabagging could be renamed to the "sword of Damocles" position.

;-)

 

[Wifetheif]

I have one that's unique to me that ahould get more play.
"Her salty intimacy."

 

[Britva415]

Am I the only one who has a problem with "crotchal"?

No

 

[RoperTrace]

Am I the only one who has a problem with "crotchal"?

Crotch pot?

 

[lustychimera]

"Cunty" as in a cutesy vulgar noun. Loathe, loathe, loathe that word. Even more than "bussy" or "boi," which is quite a lot.

 

[Bramblethorn]

No

Ah, missed that! We can hate it together then.