I have a really bad habit of injuring my heroines. Without delving too deeply into why it's usually my female characters who have to bear the brunt of physical pain, I found myself insanely annoyed the other day when having to write around a character's injuries. Mainly because it is going to require some research in revisions as to how long that particular wound would *actually* take to heal, the stages of healing, re-injury possibilities, etc.

Also, I'm tired of having to figure out how to get her places while making allowances for her wound. Because you know, I can't ever write these things half-way...there is no "simple scrape on the arm" with me. If I'm going to hurt someone (um, on paper), I don't generally go half-way. Because that wouldn't be nearly dramatic enough.

*eyeroll*

Yes, I do realize that if I were a planner rather than a pantser, this probably wouldn't be so much of an issue, because I'd have thought it out ahead of time. But where's the fun in that? And what would I have to complain about if I knew what was going to happen before it happened?

On a brighter note, I'm well on my way to amassing serious knowledge on how the body works, heals, and just how much suffering it can deal with before saying "screw it, I'm done." Adrenaline, anyone? So you know, there is that...

I can't complain too much though - I mean, I do this to myself. In my erotica stories, no one gets seriously maimed or hurt, ever (which you'll agree is a bit ironic, if you've ever read one). And those stories seem to turn out fine. Actually, more people buy those.

Hmm. Maybe I should look into that more closely. Perhaps readers object to my fictional violence towards women? I honestly can't tell you why it happens, it just does. I tend to write by asking myself, "what's the worst thing that could happen here?" and then I write that. Apparently for my romantic suspense and thriller heroines, the worst thing that could happen is being physically damaged in some way. Which we all know isn't true in all cases, but it's interesting to note. I think it's because the physical wound makes it that much harder for my strong women to do what they need to do - and they will always, without fail, find the inner strength to push through to the end.

But what if that isn't the worst thing that could happen? What if I'm neglecting the emotional wreckage I could be putting them through instead? I'm going to have to ponder that too - the erotica deals far more with the psychological than the physical. Perhaps I need to bring more of that out of the bedroom, so to speak.

Hmm. Much to think about today.

All this pondering has given me an epiphany about one of my rom. suspense stories that readers are not going to like. But truly, it is the *worst* thing that can possibly happen, in a very psychological way, and it's going to push my heroine over the edge. This particular heroine has escaped major physical injury to this point. No one is safe though, until I write "The End". 

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