Hot or Not? Language in Erotica.

Given that I may have the opportunity to perform a live 5-minute reading of my book next Friday night, it seems like a good time to direct our inquiry toward erotica.

Language - the most common medium of communication, and truly one of the only methods that's effective over a distance.

Notice how our language may change depending on our audience? At work we may use jargon to quicken the process. For example, "A composite on distal buccal #2," is dental jargon for a composite resin filling on the back and cheek-side corner of the 2nd top right molar from the back of your mouth. Say that five times fast!

For many of us, the language we use with our family is difference than the language we use among our friends - and there's nothing wrong with that! A group-specific way of speaking enhances our social bond and the feeling of belonging.

But what about erotica? If I tow the line of tame, no one will want to read it, but if I jump off the cliff of raunch, people will be turned off. The challenge is to appeal to the widest variety of readers without becomming too bland for anyone to enjoy. Let's discuss four variations of erotic language...

• Cum vs. Come? I had always thought that cum was the accurate term for the act of having an orgasm, and also for the associated fluid produced, and so much sexier than ejaculate. But recently I came across a discussion online about this very term, wherein some people expressed a loathing for the word cum! They were turned off by it and found it crass, low, or pedestrian. What's an author to do? Besides the occasional spurt, squirt and spray, I chose to use "cum" - you can't please them all.

• His throbbing manhood... Admit it, you've probably read at least one cheap and sexy romance novel that used this phrase, and I'm no exception. The choice of wording might correspond to the emotional atmosphere of the scene - at a romantic moment, phallus may be too clinical and cock too raunchy. Dick, penis, wonder wand... get creative.

• Meow! Pet the pussy. The female genitalia has so many enjoyable parts. Pussy, snatch and yoni seem to imply the overall package, whereas labia, lips, vagina, clit, pink pearl, or honeyed love tunnel indicate specific areas. You can only use the same term so many times in a paragraph without getting repetitive, so again, get creative instead.

• This or It vs. My? When inviting or demanding oral sex, a woman might say "Lick this clit," or, "Lick it," while lifting her skirt, or "Lick my clit." There is an emotional difference in taking ownership of the body part by using the possessive MY and objectifying the body part with IT or THIS. I particularly like being objectified, but not everyone does, so I varied the language depending on the scene.
  

Which raises the question... How do you like to be spoken to? What do you like to say and what do you like to hear? Love muffin? Sexy bastard? You fuckin' cum-slut? This is a discussion that can bring immediate spice into your bedroom antics. Enjoy!


M. Makael Newby, 2009 - All Rights Reserved - http://mmakaelnewby.blogspot.com