I read not long ago that statistically speaking, romance writers, specifically erotic romance writers, have a very high divorce rate.This gave me pause, not because I was worried about my marriage...I was already divorced...but because I wondered...WHY?
Wouldn't you think with all our passion and imagination, we writers would have magic between the sheets? Apparently not.
Call me naive, but I recently got a glimpse into what might be at least part of the issue.
I think we've all had people ask us where our inspiration comes from, who our characters were modeled after, were they based on people we know? And the honest answer to that is, from everything we see and do, yes, including people we know. Writers are sponges, absorbing bits and pieces of the world around them. These things become fodder for our imaginations. Emphasis on IMAGINATION.
Recently I began to date a guy who was an avid reader. It was one of the common threads that brought us together. To my delight, he read my books. Liked my books! Could it get better?
At one point he mentioned he was unsure if he could live up to my expectations.
Expectations? Me?
Naturally I asked for an explanation. His answer floored me!
He was afraid he wouldn't measure up to my heroes!
After I picked my teeth up off the floor, I assured him no one could and shouldn't be expected to. They were fantasies, like Superman or the Easter Bunny.
Our relationship continued on for several months and then rather abruptly ended. Maybe it wasn't just him worrying about his end of the fantasy. Maybe I didn't live up to my heroines either. Had he hoped that I would? Oh dear, oh dear! Since he never said, I can only guess.
More food for thought...fodder for our imaginations? Who does this sort of research anyway?
Wouldn't you think with all our passion and imagination, we writers would have magic between the sheets? Apparently not.
Call me naive, but I recently got a glimpse into what might be at least part of the issue.
I think we've all had people ask us where our inspiration comes from, who our characters were modeled after, were they based on people we know? And the honest answer to that is, from everything we see and do, yes, including people we know. Writers are sponges, absorbing bits and pieces of the world around them. These things become fodder for our imaginations. Emphasis on IMAGINATION.
Recently I began to date a guy who was an avid reader. It was one of the common threads that brought us together. To my delight, he read my books. Liked my books! Could it get better?
At one point he mentioned he was unsure if he could live up to my expectations.
Expectations? Me?
Naturally I asked for an explanation. His answer floored me!
He was afraid he wouldn't measure up to my heroes!
After I picked my teeth up off the floor, I assured him no one could and shouldn't be expected to. They were fantasies, like Superman or the Easter Bunny.
Our relationship continued on for several months and then rather abruptly ended. Maybe it wasn't just him worrying about his end of the fantasy. Maybe I didn't live up to my heroines either. Had he hoped that I would? Oh dear, oh dear! Since he never said, I can only guess.
More food for thought...fodder for our imaginations? Who does this sort of research anyway?
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