Full disclosure, I'm posting this because my wife was terrified to ask this question anywhere online. She's writing a romance novel incorporating numerous graphic descriptions of sexual acts. She recently finished reading "For whom the Belle tolls" and got some inspiration from it. She needs a better, more romantic/erotic term for the vagina to use in her descriptions, specifically geared towards sex.
TL:DR - Wife writing a romance novel. What's a more romantic/erotic term for the vagina when describing sexual acts?
I mean this in the best way possible: has your wife read much spicy Romance?
There are many terms for the vagina that are far more erotic and sexy and far less clinical, and they are commonly used in Romance novels.
I'd personally recommend reading Katee Roberts, but there are plenty of others.
Edit: it's actually a bit more sus to have a partner be the one to ask such a question rather than, say, make a throwaway and do so. It can be embarrassing! I'm not trying to say that isn't something valid to feel. It absolutely is. But if it's embarrassing to ask the question then how is that going to be less embarrassing to write the thing for others to read?
Especially since I would ask this out loud to a hundred people before I could ever read a sex scene I wrote without cringing and blushing, and I've written dozens of them and read thousands!
Omg SAME.
The terminology is the easy part. Lol
Cara Bristol's "Naughty Words for Nice Writers." It's a huge help when I get stuck in a rut reusing the same word.
Not OP, but thanks for the rec!
oh I need to look that up i use cock so fucking often ...
She needs to read more romance, with a variety of spice levels. It'll give her a feel for what terminology she likes best.
yup, i know i've read enough heat level 4 to know i want to keep writing heat level 3....
If she's afraid to ask the question herself, then she would probably have issues publishing said novel. Unless this is purely for her own enjoyment.
My advice though is to read more books with erotic content. She can figure out which words she prefers and get a feel for how to write the scenes.
dude, if she cant even post this question anonymously herself, nor to google "slang words for vagina," or even think of at least 5 words for it just...off the top of her head.....she....has a long, long way to go, and a lot of reading to do before she can even get started.
True. I'm her sounding board and expert when it comes to tech, the web, blah blah. Google did indeed provide other words, this was my first suggestion and her first method. She was less than enthused with it's results, hence the Reddit post
Pussy, cunt. Could describe the parts being touched specifically (folds, clit, bush, pubic mound or just mound).
Erotic words for Romance writers
Usually just pussy, lol. Others include, non-exclusively, 'my core', or describing how (something) goes inside of her, stretching her, hitting spots inside of her etc. It's usually better not to directly address the vagina itself it feels like.
Reference to the clit or anywhere more specific works too when it's e.g. cunnilingus.
You can even be original and make up your own terms, as long as they're easily understood. Just now, off the top of my head, I came with with "slit with a clit". Feel free to steal it.
The appropriate words for sex acts and organs often depend on sub genre. Example if she's writing historical honey pot or lady garden would work but if she is writing contemporary or urban fantasy that would be completely inappropriate. I'd be happy to offer more help but I'd need more information about the tone of her work.
Honestly, she doesn’t really need one. Depending on the spice level she can get away with almost never directly naming a genital.
“His hand dips between my legs.” “He slides into me.” And so on. As long as there is plenty of description around the sensations and connection, everyone will know what’s going on.
But reading more romance will also help her with this.
I will put it this way. There are 2 options here. Go with phrases that are decent or go with phrases that are ridiculous and unhinged and cringe. Some people won’t read books though if you go with the cringe option! I’m talking like how they name the dick things such as a pole lol. There is no romantic way to talk about genitals and it’s also a personal preference thing 🤷♀️
Just tell her to steer away from 'tight heat'.
Eh. It's overplayed but it's not embarassing. Flower euphemisms and "womanhood" are infinitely more cringe.
LOL Done.