Tuesday

[clevermanka]

Guardian/adjacent
When I say you're not ready for it...
Phantacity cosplay.
This watch thread is a delight.
More of Z1L's Kinship shoot.
Bai Yu... drinking.
Seratonin boost.
Fanart: Bai Yu, Diner date.

Do any of y'all have problems writing slang for genitals in Shen Wei's POV? Beta laughed at my use of "scrotum" (which I don't blame her for at all bc what a terrible word) and I hate it too, but every time I try to write "balls" in Shen Wei's hand I'm like ummmmm no.

Comments

[amara1783]

This is Shen Wei's POV from my most recent fic 😆

He licked at the glans, ran his tongue down the superficial dorsal vein, and then traced along the seam between the base of the penis and the scrotum.

[clevermanka]

See, now that actually really does it for me bc with those super specific descriptions I can see it so precisely. But I know I'm... not in the majority on that (and I wouldn't want it in every fic, certainly) and I feel like there has to be some sort of happy medium!

[amara1783]

I think it depends quite a lot on the vibe of the fic what feels right, not just on the characters and what they would use - but omg yes English does NOT have enough sexy words for balls - and don't get me started on 'rectum' etc 😩

Maybe 'spheres' might fit?

[clevermanka]

Beta suggested being more describe-y with the action instead of naming things, which is a great idea and I'm gonna see if I can get it to work.

There is a reason very little of my fic deals with ball-handling. It's harder to write than kissing, imo.

[amara1783]

Beta sounds like they might be on to something there - I wish you much writing-luck! 🥳

And I am *giggling* at 'ball-handling' which of course demonstrates the problem nicely but also omg ball-handling 😂

[clevermanka]

BALL-HANDLING, AMARA. This is what we wordsmiths are reduced to. It's a crime.

[glymr]

Hmm, "testicles" ?

[clevermanka]

I did use "testicles" in First Time is Different for Everyone and I seem to remember a similar beta comment then, too. 😆 We have so many lovely options for penis--I honestly love "cock," "shaft," "length," and, in Zhao Yunlan's POV anyway, "dick". We need more and better options than "balls" or shudder "sack."

[goss]

every time I try to write "balls" in Shen Wei's hand I'm like ummmmm no

My bite of biscotti just went airborne as I sporfled. :b

[clevermanka]

*hands you a napkin*

[minoanmiss]

Look up some older slang, like --- I was going to think of some but my roommates insisted on destroying my train of thought, but yeah, look up older slang. it's neither current-informal nor technical-terminology.

[clevermanka]

Fun idea! I feel like that would work if this were an English-based fandom, but it might be awkward in this particular situation.

There's an entire database of slang for genitals, but it only covers vagina and penis.

[trobadora]

I think scrotum works fine from Shen Wei's POV! None of the words for balls are even slightly sexy, so you can't win anyway. *g*

[clevermanka]

There is NO WIN here. 😑

[kazoogrrl]

Except for everyone who is getting a laugh out of these comments (thank you)!

[clevermanka]

I am SO glad I can at least still bring some laughter to the party!

[naye]

Oh that little touch in gif form I'm.

Weak.

Do any of y'all have problems writing slang for genitals in Shen Wei's POV? Beta laughed at my use of "scrotum"

Ahahahahahahah YES I have had this exact problem and I think I've dealt by just...not describing any fondling in detail? (I struggled enough to come up with a word for "ass".)

[clevermanka]

I love that we're all in the same boat with this. I mean if I had them, I'd want my balls fondled! I want my characters to have that! 😄

(I've gotten used to "buttocks" from Shen Wei's point of view)

[naye]

(I've gotten used to "buttocks" from Shen Wei's point of view)
I think I used "rump" once... 😂

[clevermanka]

Oh! and "bottom." 😂 Zhao Yunlan wiggles his bottom a lot. (eta: pretty sure I've used "rump" as well--it's a charming word)

[naye]

Bottom is a great one! And yes. Yes he does~! ♥

[yantantether]

Do any of y'all have problems writing slang for genitals in Shen Wei's POV?

Yes!! Omg it's a struggle. I have definitely written fic from his pov without using "cock" even, although in other fics I've decided he's been dating ZYL long enough that some of his vocab has rubbed off on him, and have been a bit more frank in my vocab choices.

[clevermanka]

Love how we all suffer together over this.

[tinny]

oh, yeah, the phantacity cosplay is beautiful. They had to get all those hats up...!

lolol, omg yes, Shen Wei and slang do not mix. He would totally call it scrotum without batting an eye. I mean, for some characters you just intentionally leave out the words because they wouldn't even dare name things in their head. Shen Wei: totally not shy, but going with the scientific words all the way.

[clevermanka]

He would totally call it scrotum without batting an eye.
Absolutely! LOL one of those times when I fear keeping the narration in-character might actually take the reader out of the scene.