Female writers: menstrual cycle and writing patterns?

[Handley_Page]

When the females in our house got to that time, the males realised that shutting up, and battening down the hatches was good policy.

 

[HandsInTheDark]

I'm not surprised a female cycle affects writing. It affects lots of things.

I'm more interested in whether it affects reading. Are y'all more voracious consumers of erotica around ovulation? Do you prefer bad boy characters then?

 

[anastasiareeves]

For me, everything changes when I'm just about to get my period. My brain stops firing on all cylinders and I'm lucky I get through a day without burning my house down or chopping off a finger. So asking it to think about writing of any kind, erotic or plot, is asking a lot. It doesn't help that right now I am in pre-menopause and there's no telling when my hormones will change on me.

Good times.

 

[Elle_Charlotte]

For me, everything changes when I'm just about to get my period. My brain stops firing on all cylinders and I'm lucky I get through a day without burning my house down or chopping off a finger. So asking it to think about writing of any kind, erotic or plot, is asking a lot. It doesn't help that right now I am in pre-menopause and there's no telling when my hormones will change on me.

Good times.

I completely understand what you're saying. My hormonal cycle by far causes the biggest changes in my feelings and thinking; Sometimes I feel like a different person, because I get mood swings, cry about nothing or even just well... Get horny for no reason. While at the same time turning from a rationally thinking woman to a total ditz.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

... And then there's the ones who stay cranky 24/7 Zinger.

Plenty of girly men are on the rag and die there.

 

[Elle_Charlotte]

Plenty of girly men are on the rag and die there.

Huh? What do you mean?

 

[TxRad]

Huh? What do you mean?

Please ignore the AH's pet troll. He is only out to get a rise out of someone. Not to mention his racial and homophobic tendencies.

 

[Elle_Charlotte]

Please ignore the AH's pet troll. He is only out to get a rise out of someone. Not to mention his racial and homophobic tendencies.

I don't understand what he meant.

 

[Ewobbit]

I don't understand what he meant.

That was my fault, Elle. I purposefully poked the badger with what I said and woke him up. (Just my quaint way of letting his old bleary eyes know he knew me) Just ignore me and Ruffles and carry on.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

Please ignore the AH's pet troll. He is only out to get a rise out of someone. Not to mention his racial and homophobic tendencies.

Speak of the Devil.

 

[Elle_Charlotte]

Like I said... I can get ditzy and silly because of it .

 

[Elle_Charlotte]

When I look at it... Yes, it absolutely has an effect. I can get all kinds of mood swings, and those can really change the way I go with a story. Where I am in a cycle constantly affects how I think, feel and what I want. Sometimes subtly, sometimes very strongly.

I think many people nowadays really underestimate sex differences. I can't speak for all women, but I do think that our sex is more emotional.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

When I look at it... Yes, it absolutely has an effect. I can get all kinds of mood swings, and those can really change the way I go with a story. Where I am in a cycle constantly affects how I think, feel and what I want. Sometimes subtly, sometimes very strongly.

I think many people nowadays really underestimate sex differences. I can't speak for all women, but I do think that our sex is more emotional.

The emotional part is essential when it comes to getting the whole picture when the obvious evidence is missing and you cant articulate what's going on. It's like THE FORCE of Star Wars, and common with females.

 

[Handley_Page]

This occurred to me this last month: that I write more risque scenes and plots when I'm pre-menstrual or at the start of my period. Whereas other times of the month, I lean towards more plot-heavy or emotional scenes.

Has anyone else noticed a similar pattern?

(Apologies if this has been covered before.)

Does this influence cease after a lady has left such thing behind her, and dowe not take HRT ?

 

[Athalia]

Does this influence cease after a lady has left such thing behind her, and dowe not take HRT ?

It did for me. After I went through menopause, everything sort of evened out ... no more highs or lows. I mean, they still come, but not in time with my cycles.