TGIF
Wow, can you believe it’s Friday again? I feel like I just blogged last week, and now it’s my turn again!
Today the discussion is around the strange questions writers get. I’ve blogged about this before on my tinagerow.com blog, but since I keep hearing new incidents, it bears repeating.
Here’s a few of the more bizzare…
1. To an erotic romance writer: “Do you really have that much sexual experience?”
This one cracks me up. The writer who was asked this is married to her high school sweetheart and has only ever slept with one man, but damn - she writes HOT erotic romance. I was floored when I heard someone asked her this! I don’t think they walk into their gyno and say, “So when you stick two fingers inside your wife, does it feel like just another day at the office?” But it ranks right up there…lol.
2. How much money do you make?
Now if it’s someone who is close to me, that’s different. But I think all authors are asked this. My usual comeback if a total stranger asks me, is, “How much do you make?” They either answer outright, or squirm a bit and avoid the question. I lose all respect for those who squirm and avoid but still expect me to answer. If they are really rude, then I’m honest and tell them it’s none of their business.
3. How many times have you cheated on your husband?
Huh? This one floored me enough to actually ask why they would even ask such a thing. They studied me skeptically before answering (which pissed me off,) and said that anyone who thinks and writes about that much sex is obviously not happy at home and must be actively ‘getting it’ somewhere else, since happily married people just don’t think about sex that much any more. I was so shocked I laughed out loud. I think I totally ticked her off when I told her if that was the state of her marriage, then I felt really sorry for her…lol.
4. “Do you write your heroes to make up for shortcomings in your own husband?”
Lucky for the person asking I wasn’t the one they asked. It was an online author friend. But OMG! Can you believe this? She gave an answer something similar to mine above in number 3 and walked away.
5. “Give me a call if you need help researching your sex scenes.”
I guess I should be flattered since I’ve been given this offer by both women and men, and even one couple…lol. Sorry guys - I just have a really vivid imagination. And for any hands on research I happen to need, my dh is more than willing to help me out. :) One of those perks of marrying the younger guy…lol.
6. “I have this great story idea. How about if I give you the idea, you write the book and we split the profits?”
For all you writers out there who snort every time you hear this, I’m with ya. For everyone who has ever thought about asking an author this - don’t. Ideas are a dime a dozen. It’s the hard work, character sketches, plotting, word choice, and actual sitting the butt in the chair and typing every day that gets you a finished book. Not to mention the rewrites, the edits, the promotions and all the rest. So, if it’s that great of an idea - go write your own book - I have a story idea file as thick as my fist, and I’m always adding to it. I don’t think I’m running out any time soon. But seriously - if an idea is really niggling in the back of your brain - go join your local writers group, do the hard work and write that book!
I’m sure there are many many more, but The Good Egg is about to open and the mushroom caps are calling me, and I need to get a good start on my 3K words goal for the day! 
Does anyone else have good examples? Let us hear them!
Tina
Thoroughly Mannerly Millicent
