Words you overuse in stories

[ElectricBlue]

However...
But I prefer butt.

Wait, what - alternate meaning there, Tilan?

 

[Djmac1031]

Soaking
Sopping
Dripping
Wet

I rather like those

 

[NoTalentHack]

According to ProWritingAid "that." "You know, you could write this sentence without using 'that'." I could, but I won't. Stay in your fucking lane, bot.

 

[ElectricBlue]

According to ProWritingAid "that." "You know, you could write this sentence without using 'that'." I could, but I won't. Stay in your fucking lane, bot.

Haha - I have a search and destroy for "and then", which for a while was my most relentless and useless writing tic. I've almost cured myself of it in real time.

 

[MrPixel]

I check synonyms for words I find I'm using a lot.

I have yet to find a suitable alternative for "thesaurus".

 

[AllenWoody]

I had one Anon Em-hater ping me about using exquisite in every story, specifically in relation to pain. They then went on to question if I was getting laid enough, and encouraged me to hang up my keypad, and focus on sucking dick. But they may have a point in their initial observation. Exquisite does cover my views on a range of BDSM activities. So put on the cuffs and I’ll cum quietly (as if?).

What are your go to words? I mean it’s hard to avoid things like:

1. Throbbing
2. Pulsing
3. Spasming
4. Convulsing

And so on in certain circumstances. And it can be tricky to refer to genitalia in a non-rote manner (disallowing schoolyard terms).

Em

Not just in the context of sex scenes, but in general I find myself leaning toward words that diminish or add conditions: Seemingly, largely, mostly, half, seems, practically, etc.

“He stumbled into the clearing, half blind with rage.”
“The crows settled about them, seemingly witnesses to what would unfold.”
“He came hard, practically torn with orgasm.”

Knowing this, I’ve found it somewhat easier to spot them and use them less often, but I’m sure there are others that I abuse without realizing it yet.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I have yet to find a suitable alternative for "thesaurus".

Onomasticon?

Close at least.

Em

 

[MrPixel]

No cigar, Em. All the (online) authorities say or infer "dictionary".

It's like using "orange" in poetry. You can force a sorta-rhymes, but it screws with the meter.

 

[EmilyMiller]

No cigar, Em. All the (online) authorities say or infer "dictionary".

It's like using "orange" in poetry. You can force a sorta-rhymes, but it screws with the meter.

I don’t like cigars .

Em

 

[WyreBendr0417]

I find myself using way too many words over and over to the point of boring the crap out of myself. Using WordWeb Pro, I started compiling a list of words I commonly use and as many relevant synonyms as I can for each.

I keep that document open as a quick reference when writing. There's a bit of cross reference between some words, but having them all listed adds a little more variety when I start getting repetitive.

 

[mejau71]

"As" and "big". So I got Writing with Stardust, a wonderful book to help me use other delicious words.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

'clearly' and 'obviously' seem to be my new.overused.words, after 'but' took over from 'and'.

Also too many 'small smiles', but there's a limit to how many times you can have people 'quirk the corner of his/her mouth'.

 

[MillieDynamite]

In, at, about, the, on, around, a, not, no, I just can't write without those words. They appear many times in any of my stories. Oh, and Just.

Now words like balderdash, I have a hard time figuring out where to insert into my stories.

 

[MrPixel]

...balderdash...

Is that a door-to-door barber service for the tonsorially-challenged?

 

[MillieDynamite]

Could be, I suppose.

Is that a door-to-door barber service for the tonsorially-challenged?

 

[EmilyMiller]

I’m 8k words into a story and am yet to use either cock or pussy. I aim not to .

Em

 

[Djmac1031]

I’m 8k words into a story and am yet to use either cock or pussy. I aim not to .

Em

Gasp! The audacity!

You may have to turn in your Cum Slut card.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Gasp! The audacity!

You may have to turn in your Cum Slut card.

Oh no! Really. I don’t want to lose that. The membership perks are so good.

Em

 

[BobbyandtheCabin]

I feel I start too many sentences with 'her' or 'she'.

I use 'cock' a hell of a lot, and its synonyms more rarely. I just feel it's the most fitting word each time. I get nervous each time that someone's going to lay into me for it (first world problems...).

I talk about long hair a lot in my stories (big kink of mine) but struggle with synonyms for that too. There's basically hair, tresses, mane, silk, locks and that's it. I experiment every now and then by trying to make one up, but there's always someone who takes issue (and outright tells me 'no' ). Then there's waving (hair), that gets abused to no end by me.

I do my best to avoid 'pussy'. It jars a little for me for some reason. I think I've just heard it used in a more degrading or vulgar tone too much and so I find it too heavy for the tone I like in my stories. However, sometimes it can feel like a safer bet.

I find on here people are quick to tell you that what you've written is wrong, rather than it being that THEY don't like it. With something like sex, a word perfect for one may make another throw up in their mouths.

 

[djrip]

With something like sex, a word perfect for one may make another throw up in their mouths.

Like moist

 

[MillieDynamite]

"A warm and moist place to hide," he said, leering at her.