As I sit trying to think up yet another euphemism for the male member, I find myself barely able to resist using the word penis, in place of cock or prick or any of the hundred plus words we see so often in fiction.
I type it out -- PENIS -- stare at it, and then hit delete.
Why?
Because there's a very thin line between erotic and clinical when it comes to sexual details in romance(or any other genre, I suspect). I remember a review from not too long ago, though which one eludes me at the moment, where the reviewer claimed I was too clinical with anatomical details and it haunts me like a shrieking specter.
Anyway, since I'm a little biased (yes, I actually like the word penis) I thought I would throw it out there and get all of your opinions on the matter.
Which do you prefer to see in fiction, a penis or a cock? Does a member by any other name still taste as sweet? (sorry, couldn't help myself)
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9 comments:
Hmm - I guess it depends partly on whose POV I'm in. If I'm in a female POV and the character tends to think somewhat formally, I don't mind penis. But if I'm in a male POV, it does jar me. Maybe because I have yet to meet a man who thinks of it as "his penis" on a normal basis.
Want more euphamisms? Try this hilarious site: http://www.starma.com/penis/penis.html
I use it occasionally (in fact I just did, and it made me laugh as I remembered this blog post), not often for the guys, but like Maura, usually from the female POV (which this instance was).
I don't mind it as a word, but if someone used it constantly,yes I think it woudl get clinical
I think it's okay to use once in a while, but too often and yes you're looking at a clinical situation *shudders*, of course as Anne and Maura said it must be in the female POV because I've yet to hear any man refer to it as his penis...lol.
Okay then, so then penis is out for gay romance? Gotcha.
I write gay romance ... I tend to use cock or dick. To me, "dick" is more along the lines of how men think of the organ. I rarely, if ever, use penis, unless it's not in a sex scene at all. Like describing someone getting dressed, or something like that.
I also tend to "purple" it up a bit and use shaft or length in the midst of a sex scene, only because I don't want to overdo it on the cock and dick. I mean, in gay fiction, you've already got two of 'em, you know?
I like 'cock' & 'penis', but save 'dick' for a totally male POV --just my $1.01, for what it's worth! ;)
Hugs,
S )O(
I prefer "cock" or "dick" (the latter for a male POV only, as others have said).
"Penis" is just too...I don't know. I just don't like the word to begin with -- it sounds so weeny, for lack of a better descriptor.
Honestly, I'm with J.M. I write gay fic, and I use cock and dick interchangeably. Penis, I think I've only used it maybe once or twice in my career. O.o
Whatever the character would call it, but cock as a default.
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