why, yes, I am procrastinating...

[falcongrrl]

For the MUCKers (specifically those who indulge in TS, however occasionally) on my fl.



From an IM conversation regarding the word 'breasts':

Me: Use chest, curve, softness, or avoid them altogether. Talk about taking someone's hand in yours and bringing it up to your lips. Talk about the sensation of their skin (fur) or its taste or its color. Talk about how it feels to lace your fingers (or paws or whatever you have) through theirs. Really, I think good rp is mostly about being sensual more than overtly sexual.

***

I'm wondering if this is really correct or just an individual, personal thing. I'm very partial to 'pretty' rp, although the 'f*** me now' has its appeal too, if I'm honest. But I'm specifically wondering if the 'sensual imagery is better than the strictly sexual kind' is a universal quality or just a matter of personal taste.

Thoughts?

Comments

[glashund.livejournal.com]

My preference-of-the-moment tends to be rather mood-based. Sometimes I'd agree, and sometimes I'm more into a more straightforward ruttiness. :)

That said, I strongly believe it's more of a personal-preference thing than a universal-quality thing. There are people out there for whom the subtler, more sensual approach simply doesn't hold much appeal, or otherwise isn't their style; however, many are very good at what they do, and usually have perfectly good nonsexual writing abilities as well, to a point that I wouldn't dare classify them as inferior RPers.

Therefore, I see it more as a "different strokes" kind of division than a "this is objectively better" one. MHO, YMMV, etc!

[postrodent.livejournal.com]

What he said, basically. Sometimes I'll be more sensual, verging on poetic (to flatter myself a little); other times it's all about raw and fast and dirty. Neither is "right" and they aren't mutually exclusive.

[mmsword.livejournal.com]

Compromise: Erotic haiku?

[mmsword.livejournal.com]

Really it is a matter of personal philosophy. Quite litterally. Aesthetics is a whole branch/aspect of philosophy dealing with the question "What is Beautiful?"

[jakebe.livejournal.com]

I really love sensuality, but I think it's pretty difficult to pull off. It takes a much greater effort on not only the part of fellow writing, but the audience as well. There needs to be a pretty good sync of imagination, and if one or both just aren't in the mood than it can get a bit disappointing.

Not to say it shouldn't be done, it's just one of those things that's hard to do well. Or that could be just me. :)

-J

[traveller-blues.livejournal.com]

The language that we use is what is 'normal' for us. The language that others use is what is 'normal' for them. It's like trying to take someone who only knows how to waltz and telling them to dance with someone who only knows swing.

And then there's hip hop... break dancing...

...as the saying goes, it takes two to tango.

-Traveller

[nukewolf.livejournal.com]

I'm in the "personal taste" camp too. As for myself, I lean more towards the sensual, though there are times when I can get pretty physical though it never progresses all the way to the "tab A goes into slot B harder and deeper unf unf unf" end of the spectrum.

It suddenly occurs to me that you probably know this already. :)

[balinares.livejournal.com]

Good points, all. If I may chime in, I'd say that, perhaps, what is being said, and how it is said, are often orthogonal, in the end, in the sense that even the lewdest things can be expressed sensually.

I don't much like pushing myself forward as an example, but it's still the example I have the most accurate experience of, so... While in terms of what, I've been know to range from RPing lovemaking so soft it didn't involve sex, to... well, going intensely physical in that rough dragon sort of way *cough*, but in all cases I generally found that trying to express, not so much what I am doing, as what my partner would be perceiving from it, in terms of senses and feelings, worked wonders in either case.

(Plus I like it on a philosophical level, because it emphasizes the giving over the taking, and I like that. :))

Or, in other words, I like to say "f--- me now" very lewdly with, in lieu of words, the feeling of a back arching, of thighs relaxing, accepting to open, with a shivering sigh being exhaled in my partner's neck, and other scandalously blatant displays of screwing needs. :D

Perhaps it's like poetry, in this? Beautiful poems have been written about unbeautiful things; but the realization can matter more than the actual subject matter... Or something.

Ya, I'm being wordy today. I think it's a good thing. :)

[rowyn]

I prefer subtle to overt, and a slow build-up rather than "[name] f***s you!"

Some words are turn-offs for me: I don't like dick or cock and I hate cunt.

But I admit, "breasts" aren't a turn-off word for me ("tits" is unappealling, though).

I do think this is a relative issue. Some people find the dirty words very erotic and cringe at the purple prose.

Amusingly, I'm avoiding writing fiction at the moment, too. =)