What makes for good dirty talk? (~in fic)

[birdsofshore]

I had an idea for a story and it would probably involve a lot of dirty talking and general filthiness. Then I realised that this is something I really struggle with.

What, in your opinion, makes dirty talking hot in fic? Are there things that just don't work for you when you're reading it? What is your favourite kind to read? Have you got a favourite story that involves dirty talk? And, if you're a writer, can you give me any tips? Because I sort of stink at it. I do try, because I know it's great when it works, but I usually fail and have to be bailed out by a beta. I got several compliments on a filthy line in a recent fic and it was actually raitala's doing, LOL.

I even feel awkward READING dirty talk, often, because I'm not always sure how I feel about people calling each other slut and so on, and I'm not fond of porny descriptions of dripping holes. So I basically need a Dirty Talk primer. Can you help? Thank you!

Comments

[pauraque]

This is a tricky question because I think dirty talk is less a distinct kink, and more a thing that can be used to express lots of different kinks. I mean, if spanking is a kink for you, then "I'm going to smack that ass so hard" could be effective dirty talk, but if it's not, then it'll leave you cold.

But speaking in general terms, what I like about it is that it gives the characters a chance to reveal their own kinks and desires. Saying out loud what gets you hot can be very intimate and revealing, and it's exciting to break taboos and say things that you would never say in everyday life.

Dirty talk can really be about anything, it doesn't have to be based on humiliation. Whatever you've decided the characters like, just have them talk about it before/while they do it, and there's your dirty talk. :) You'll never be able to please everybody, because whatever words or concepts do it for you, it's a guarantee that someone else finds them squicky or silly-sounding, so you kinda just have to dive in and write what you would want to hear.

[kitty_fic]

+1
Everything about this comment!

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

silly-sounding

Is it sad that I have a mild thing for this? Personally, I love little instances where dirty-talk and other sexual things don't come off as porno movie perfect, makes the sex scene more real to me because lets face it, people often say and do really goofy shit in bed.

Agree with the rest of your comment and I personally love it when dirty-talk is coming out of characters you wouldn't expect it from since it shows they're so lost in the moment they've stopped keeping up their pretenses.

[pauraque]

What I had in mind was something sounding silly in an offputting or unintended-by-the-author way. But of course you are right that sex is often kind of silly, and sometimes things that are really hot when you're all worked up would sound a bit ridiculous out of context! Actually I like that about dirty talk too -- it can make you vulnerable to your partner, because you're trusting them not to laugh at the stuff that gets you hot when you're lost in the moment, as you say.

[birdsofshore]

I agree, I like silliness in sex very much. I'm not sure if I know any fics where this comes across really well, though? I'm trying to think.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

There's a Fred/George fic I wrote long ago that has silliness up the wazoo (so to speak), but then again that pairing just was kind of ripe for it back then.

[birdsofshore]

Yes, you know I think it's the intimacy that freaks me out a little. It does seem to make the person talking so potentially vulnerable that I clench up on their behalf. I managed to write some recently from a dommy sort of character and that helped me. I guess if the person is feeling pretty in charge to start with, that might help with the paralysing vulnerability.

[pauraque]

I think that type of vulnerability is a recurring theme in my own fics, and not just when there's dirty talk in particular. There can be multiple levels of vulnerability in sex, from simply been seen naked to revealing your most secret desires. It's fascinating to me when and how people choose to trust each other with those things.

When dirty talk is coming from a dominant partner, I would say a lot of the vulnerability is in the more submissive partner's reactions to it — no longer hiding the fact that they like being called a slut, or whatever it is.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

Whatever you've decided the characters like, just have them talk about it before/while they do it, and there's your dirty talk.

I think this in a nutshell is the best way to start writing dirty talk.