Has anyone here read "The Five Love Languages" by Gary Chapman? It's a fabulous book and I highly recommend it, but it's not what this blog post is about. My subject header just reminded me of the book. Really, you should read it.
But let's get back on topic. What topic, you may ask? The language of love...physical love that is.
Yesterday was a really hectic day for me...I forgot I had copyedits due until I'm blithely chatting with my mom on the way to take her to the doctor and something I say triggers memory...stress...and a whole bunch of other stuff. We make a quick stop by my house so I can pick up the manuscript (thank goodness I've only got 130 pages left to go) and off we go to the doctor's office. I won't get into how difficult it is to hold your mom's hand while she's in excruciating agony while the doctor performs a pelvic exam, but I will say I now know how my hubby felt when I was popping out our children.
Anyway, regarding these copyedits...for the most part they are fine, but the editor questioned every time I used a more "clinical" term for male or female genitalia. The book she was copy editing was my April '06 historical, Tempt Me. So, here's what I want to know after having told her to leave all mentions of "penis" etc. in the manuscript. Do you, as a reader feel the need for more flowery language in a historical when it comes to describing sex?Obviously...I don't. LOL
Hugs,
8 comments:
Lucy, I love that book! I have a copy in my library and refer to it when I write. It helps to understand how different we all are in receiving and sending love.
well, i personally don't LIKE the word penis. I dunno if it's cuz it's a clinical term. Vagina doesn't bother me much, but penis... well, it sounds so cold...
I don't necessarily need it to be flowery. the throbbing staff of love is so ... lame...
Vivi...that is so true. It helped me with male POV early on, not to mention just the different way each person is in their quest to both extend love and feel loved by others.
LOL Shi...I think it's a cultural thing, environment...whatever. But to me, "penis" is really natural. I'm way more comfortable with it than the word "phallus" which seems to be used in a lot of historical romance. However, I will never forget reading a description by one author that referred to the male "member" in repose as some kind of worm. She was not going for a laugh...it was supposed to be sexy. I...um...didn't find it that way. At all. LOL
Hugs,
Lucy
See, Alyssa...that's sort of what I thought. ;)
Hugs,
Lucy
Lucy I use words that my characters would use so it changes but I use penis all the time. As for flowery or purple prose....shudder....
I don't care much for flowery words. Most of the time they make me either laugh or question what body part they are referring too... Like love petals cracks me up....
Ooh...I wanna know what a love petal is...I bet I can guess. LOL
Hugs,
Lucy
P.S. LuAnn...see, I do too, so it always surprises me when a reader or copyeditor says a certain words pulls her out of the story when to me, it's the most natural word for my character to use.
From a reader's standpoint, I have to agree with LuAnn. The language a character uses differs from story to story, so sometimes grittier, earthier language just works, and other times practical terms fit the scene. In a contemporary, I don't think flowery prose ever works - lol. I've read books from many different subgenres so reading the word penis seems normal to me. A decade ago, it would have been more jarring, but now, it fits right in, uh, no pun intended - lol.
FYI: I don't think a worm could ever be considered sexy...
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