Hugh Jackman! Yes, Hugh won by a narrow margin, and I'm not surprised that each of my heroes got votes. There were two write- ins:

Richard Armitage

Yes, I could certainly handle this. Did I mention the hero of my book, (working title, which I'm sure will change, is His Lordship's Apprentice) can be a bit of a bear at times? I think the above scowl captures that pretty darned well...

And from a Facebook friend, Javier Bardem

I actually had to look him up because I'd never heard of him before. Hmm, not too bad.

I'm really surprised that no one mentioned Colin Firth. I'm sure it was just an oversight. Or maybe Mr. Darcy is just too obvious a choice, lol.

But now that we've got that questioned answered (actually, we answered nothing, other than that we all really enjoy contemplating seriously hot and manly guys), I have another question that came up the other day during an interview of author Traci Hall on Dayana Knight's blog.

Why does it seem pretty universal that authors so often have to bribe themselves to do the thing they love best, which is writing?

We start writing because we are obsessively drawn to words and storytelling. Most of us have been doing this in some form since we were very young children, and most can't envision a life where we don't sit down to write pretty much every day. There are always characters talking in our heads, and storylines unfurl in our mind's eye like enticing ribbons of untraveled highway. We can't not set out on the journey. And yet, especially once we realize our dream of being published, traveling the road can come to feel like a chore, all those words becoming burdens weighing us down and dragging at every step. Can you imagine WANTING to do dishes or laundry? Writers do, because it gives them a break from what they're supposed to be doing - producing their word count for the day.

To make ourselves write, we use every kind of self-bribe imaginable. Chocolate is an extemely popular choice: M&Ms, Hershey's kisses, raisinets (that's mine!). Some go for salty things: cashews, potato chips, pretzels, etc. Or we'll promise ourselves a yummy latte at the end of the day. We simultaneously become both the parent and the child: if you write this page, I'll give you a bite of this candy bar. If you're good and write 1000 words, I'll take you out later for a treat. 

One answer you'll hear is that writing is plain hard work. But why is is it hard work? How can sitting in a chair and moving your fingers to convey romantic fantasies possibly be strenuous?

Because it takes not only every bit of your mental concentration, but the whole of your emotional self as well. You have to completely leave the world you live in - with all of its concerns and committments - and enter the one you've created where you have to live the lives of several characters at once. It means shutting you off and so you can become them, and that can be really, really draining! 

But I'm going to ask around and see what I can find out. Is this as universal as I think? Are there authors who have never had to resort to such shenanigans to get a book done on time? And are there any effective self-bribes I haven't heard of yet? (might be willing to pay cash for that information).

Non-writers, what kinds of things do you have to bribe yourself to do?

(Did I mention that I've been eating dark chocolate raisinets as I write this post?)