I got that experience through dating dozens of men for six years after college, getting an entry level magazine job at 21, working in the fiction department at Good Housekeeping and then working as a fashion editor there as well as writing many articles for the magazine.

In this quote, Judith Krantz reflects on the diverse experiences that helped shape her career and personal life. She mentions dating dozens of men over the course of six years after college, which suggests that her romantic experiences were formative in some way, perhaps influencing her understanding of relationships or providing material for her writing. Krantz also highlights her entry-level magazine job at 21 and her work in the fiction department at Good Housekeeping, which gave her valuable insights into the publishing world and helped her develop as a writer.

Krantz’s reference to her career progression—working as a fashion editor and writing many articles—illustrates her growth within the magazine industry. These jobs provided her with practical skills and real-world experience in both journalism and editing, which would later inform her work as a novelist. Her background in writing articles and fiction gave her a unique perspective on both the creative and commercial aspects of storytelling.

The origin of the quote lies in Krantz’s own journey of professional and personal development. She points to the broad range of experiences she had in both her personal life and her career, all of which contributed to her ability to write engaging stories. Her mix of romantic experiences and career milestones likely influenced her novels, many of which explore themes of relationships, wealth, and societal expectations.

Ultimately, Krantz’s quote emphasizes how her life experiences, both in terms of her career and personal relationships, shaped her as a writer. She suggests that it’s the combination of real-world experience and personal exploration that enabled her to write with authenticity and depth. Her journey of self-discovery and professional growth became the foundation for her later success as a novelist and magazine writer.