He reached his crisis – Working with Climax terms. AND A CONTEST!!!
Today we have a contest! Read the blog, comment, and you could win a copy of Sabrina Darby’s new novel, On These Silken Sheets! Instructions at the end! On These Silken Sheets is a historical erotic romance. “What happens in Harridan House stays in Harridan House. It is Regency London’s most exclusive after-hours club, catering to the erotic fantasies of randy lords and inquisitive ladies, each discreetly masked to guard every delicious indiscretion. Under the proprietorship of the notorious Madame Rouge, virgins, rakes, bachelors, and courtesans intimately mingle, free of the suffocating moral rules and restraints imposed upon them by good society. Harridan House: where forbidden pleasures always take place on silken sheets.”
He reached his crisis – Working with climax terms
As a Romance writer (one that doesn’t write “sweet romances”), there invariably comes a time when I need to describe one or both of the characters climaxing. Now, there are more terms for this act than I even knew! I did a little “research” for this blog post, and have found some I had never heard before, like cheer, cheese, come one’s cocoa, come one’s fat, cream silkies, fanny bomb!, and go over the mountain. As funny as some of those are, they don’t seem so…. romance-y to me.
Therein lies the problem! The words you use in your writing must fit the feel of the story; as a writer we are left with a limited amount of good ones. I personally like come and cum, “le petite mort”, shattered/shattering, and a few more.
There are ones that I’m not sure I like, or dislike – it depends on if they work in the context, like he poured himself into her. I’ve only ever once seen that in a story and liked it. Spend, convulsed, release, summit, zenith, pinnacle, apogee, he reached the denouement, the end, finish/finished, apex peak, sighed his release, peaked, crest/crested, he ejaculated, are other ones I am iffy on. Like I said, they can work, and they can really not work.
Now, there are ones, of course, that I greatly dislike. “He reached his crisis” is a big UGH for me. First of all, why on earth is he in crisis? He must be sleeping with the wrong person then!
I don’t get the negative connotations a lot of climax terms imply. Yes, the little death could be seen as one, but I’m biased on that because I just love the French terminology, and I love the thought of something being so perfect that you’ve reached a perfect state of bliss, that you reach some form of transcendence.
Things like the crucial moment, the final moment/the finale, the decisive moment, his last act, crux, he reached his resolution, give me an eeeehhh feeling. How, tell me how, is coming a decisive moment? You don’t usually have much choice in the matter, especially a guy. Crucial could work, I suppose, on whether he pulls out in time, but I just don’t like that term. I guess I want my climax terms to be happy? That may sound silly, but especially because its romance, I want the end of things to be a good moment, and things like the cessation of passion, the ending of the event, the swan song of their time together, give me a sad feeling.
Some just make me ewwwww! Spewed, exploded, he shot his wad, discharged!!!, spurted, ejected.
Some are just comical. His head came to a head, crescendo, he passed the rubicon, he bid her body adieu, the payoff, his penis spoke its famous last words.
I would say the majority of the ones in this short blog are just not appropriate for using in a romance. I mean, how romantic is this – “He reached the crux, sighing as his crisis came.” Hehe… terrible, I know. But we really are limited in what we can use, and how many times you can use it. Overly-repetitious usage of a few terms is no better than using “discharge” to describe someone climaxing.
What do you think? Do you find, as a writer that you do have a limited “bag-o-tricks” to pull climax terms from? Or do you look at the many words included here and think there are so many to choose from? What are your favorite climax terms? The ones you cannot stand? You have a great opportunity today, because if you comment, and include your thoughts on the best and worst climax terms, you will be entered into a random drawing to win a copy of Sabrina Darby’s new novel, On These Silken Sheets!!!! The drawing will be held at 10 o’clock p.m. tonight, Pacific Time. Good luck, and thanks for commenting! Hope you enjoyed the blog!
I already bought Sabrina Darby’s book, but I just don’t see how ’shot his wad’ isn’t romantic.
First off…HAHAHAAHA. Most of those were decidedly un-sexy and un-romantic.
Other’s made me wonder if we were still talking about the same thing…Apogee? If I have to consult my mental dictionary…it doesn’t work. THERE’s your litmus test, aye?
Post climax I’d say…”He came back to himself” because to be honest…a “good one” is practically an Out of Body experience
imho.
Release is another good one, after work I like to “release” some tension while I still have the house to myself
*snerk* It’s also good because of….well…during the act I have to maintain control, a physiological “grip” lest it end too quickly/before I want it to. As long as I’m trying to think of something/way to describe it, lemme see… how about, “He gave in and explored delicious defeat inside her…” Meh, Maybe. Not sure if it works but something like that. Heehee.
Personally, as a newer writer, I do feel somewhat limited in what I use. But that might just be my inexperience speaking. I tend to play it very safe and stick with come/cum and a few other “safe” words.
The word “exploded” could work for me, not so much in the sticky sense (ew?) but if you’re referring to a sensation, like nerves or stars behind your eyes, etc. In fact, a few words that, if used for the actual physical verb “come” would gross me out, would work more for describing the sensations along with the physical act.
As a reader, though, I definitely have read some phrases that just bring out the immature 7th grader in me and force me to giggle, thus ruining the mood of the scene. Shot his wad? I mean, sounds like you’re listening to a locker room full of middle school football players trying to be cool. Discharge sounds like a medical issue. And spewing forces unfortunate thoughts to mind of throwing up. Nothing takes me out of the sexual/romantic mood like thoughts of vomit or young boys. (Shudder.)
And then there’s “cheese.” Really? Someone tells me they “cheesed” and I’m going to think they smiled for a picture. Not quite right…
Anyway, there are my thoughts. Take them or leave them!
In my writing, I tend to use “release” a lot.
I’ve never even heard of some of the ones you mentioned here. Wow! Most are so unromantic. Although the type of book (erotic, sensual, etc) might also determine some of the words I’ll use or that I think fits with the story I’m reading.
What an interesting topic! LOL!
LOL! “Come one’s cocoa, come one’s fat, cream silkies, fanny bomb!” These are a riot. I have never heard it put such a way before.
I must say, I am very new to writing. So I feel like I use the same words over and over again.
With all the books I read, I can honestly say, I am drawing a blank, right now. However, I am enjoying everyone else’s post.
Thanks for having this.
Many Happy Sales,
Fallon Hadley
LOL… No really.
I have often lamented the paucity of good climax terms (not to mention terms for certain body parts) I haven’t heard most of the ones you’ve mentioned but you’re right… not romantic.
Crisis just made me laugh… really what’s the crisis? Seems to me, in general, you’d be pretty happy about that point.
Release always works for me, but I like ‘apex’ and ‘crested the wave’ as long as they work in context… shattered is my favorite though.
Thank you for a wonderful post. : )
Okay, I admit to liking poured himself into her, spent, spurt and found his release. I LOVE the Come one’s Cocoa and will never have hot chocolate again.
Awesome post, this made my day.
How about salted? He salted all over me. Not romantic, but funny!
“his penis spoke its famous last words”
no. that’s not for real….is it?
I’ve read the fabulous On These Silken Sheets…so no need to enter me in the contest…but I just had to say….oh my.
Personally I like to keep the sex terms to ones that are well known and well-used because I don’t want, at that crucial moment of emotion in the action, to pull the reader out of the story. Some of those terms just made me want to laugh, but then so do some of the historically accurate terms, so I tend not to use those either-some readers like that and others hate it LOL
Great post! As a reader the terms a writer choses to use for a climax can really pull me out of the scene. My biggest problem is when the phrase used doesn’t match the tone of the sex. If the sex is sweet and slow then don’t use super graphic language there. If it’s hot, sexy and ahem…works you all up – then don’t throw in a “lame” (lol) expression.
Very funny, Rachel. I don’t think I was nearly as creative as some of these in On These Silken Sheets.
But Sarah, I have to admit, that “famous last words” one is not from a book, but is from the dark recesses of my mind late last night when Rachel asked for brainstorming help.
We make what we have work and try not to go too zany. A bad bad bad bad example of what not to use.
The dragon spit.
While I’m okay with spurted, exploded, crescendo, especially when considering the context, I don’t think I’d ever be able to write in a wip, he bid her body adieu or his penis spoke its famous last words or, um, the dragon spit-lol
And, in romance books (for a love scene), I don’t think I will never like the word discharge. *shakes head*
Wow…some of those are definitely new to me. I think there should be a book that strives to use as many corny and completely inappropriate climax words. I think it would be very entertaining, although probably wouldn’t win a Rita or anything.
I don’t like the words that describe other bodily functions like: spewed, threw up, spit…it’s just not sexy to read “his shaft threw up into her deepest recesses.”
Nothing wrong with using the good ‘ole, simple standby of “he came” or “she orgasmed”.
Fun blog topic Rach!
Discharge makes me think of weapons. The military term for firing, as well as I’m sure other places where guns are shot, is discharging your weapon. Which I suppose could be apropos lol. Funny.
I already bought Sabrina Darby’s book so you don’t need to enter me into the contest, but that is one funny blog. Some of the images sort of make me feel in the mood…for being ill. Some are that unromantic.
Well… “spooge” is a verb in my house (including past tense “spooged.”)
I’d say don’t enter me in the drawing, but I wanna win (and wanna donate my winnings, if they come, to Voirey Linger!)
Aww… Thanks Em.
I’m blunt and to the point with terms. I tend to use ‘come’ or ‘orgasm’. i don’t really like having to stop and figure out if the character is supposed to be coming or not, so I just put it out there.
The purple-prosage can drove me bonkers.
Rachel this is a great post! I have often wondered about some of the wording some authors use, how they come up with it,
I love the one from the top ” his penis spoke its famous last words” * laughing my butt off* now that one is funny.
I do agree though it really depends on the story line, the characters, the type of sex scene. The wording can really throw off the scene to me and pull me out of the story.
Some of the ones i think are ok (if used right) :
~ took his raging body over the edge
~he became ground zero, a cataclysm of excess that turned him completely inside out and back again
~contractions of his climax
~his body reaching flashpoint all at once
~the burn of his release was ferocious and untamed
Some of the ones i WOW on, or ewwww :
~he emptied himself into her
~his body’s seed spilling (like spilled milk???)
~hot seed spurted from him (ewww….just ewww)
~pumping his flow into her ( all i picture is a gas pump)
~he came so hard he saw stars ( ok sounds like something might be wrong)
~Spent himself to the last drop
Now i am by no means a writer. i am sure it is alot harder to come up with wording for scenes like these. I do say that if it is done right i guess any wording can sounds good and fit the scene.
Thanks again for this post. this was great !!!
JoJo
This post made me laugh!
Part of the reason people don’t take romance novels seriously is because they either think it’s all terms like “His head came to a head” or they have really been unfortunate to read “he bid her body adieu” in an actual book
Though I have to say “his penis spoke its famous last words!” Honey if it’s talking, you better run.
I still w/ cum, release or ograsm. Oh another one not to use: jizz.
OMG! This is sooo funny! I think I use completion, peak, release…like many of you I try not to be overly creative at that moment. No point in detracting!
Now see, I’m pretty reserved. I think most of mine have already hit it, but yeah, so many are just not sexy to me. I’m pretty weird, I know. LOL.
What, you mean i shouldn’t be using “Blow his load”? crap. i’m sunk.
i don’t mind reading come/cum, release, climaxed, orgasm. depending on the author, they can wax poetic with stuff like ‘jump over the edge into ecstasy’
Entries are now closed! Thanks for all the comments, they were great! I’m going to randomly pick in a few minutes!
YAY!! CONTEST RESULTS – Congratulations, Jodie West!!!! WOOT! Please DM me on twitter with your email and address, and how you want it signed! Sabrina will get the book out to you right away!
Congratulations, and so glad you enjoyed the post!
OH WOOT. thank you thank you!! i can’t wait to read it!! you guys are awesome, and this was by far the funniest, post contest i’ve done. it was great .
Thanx,
JoJo
Late to the party as usual
But here’s my two cents worth: my biggest headache is a name for the male member. I truly dislike the term ‘dick’. What else is there that doesn’t sound awful? Cock, and penis. Any more suggestions? )c: