I recently emailed another local writer. A. and I have been emailing back and forth since she quit her job last year. Sometimes we include a piece of writing, but usually just a short "hey, how ya doing?"

Recently, I sent A. something I'd started writing and she emailed back that she liked the energy of the first draft; was I still working on it? When I emailed her to let her know I was trying to, I was down in the dumps after an impossible week. Apparently, it showed, as her next email (as yet unresponded to) consisted of one line asking how I was doing; I sounded a little off.

That's one of the rough things about writing. It's you and the computer/typewriter/pen and paper. It can be very lonely. True, I have other people living here with me, but that doesn't always help; in fact, it can sometimes be a hinderance.

"It was a dark and stormy night when..." I'll start when suddenly I'll hear, "Honey, where's the coffee filters? I was going to fix another pot and..."

"On the shelf."

"I don't see it."

So I'm up and getting the package of filters, which is right where I said they were. "Here they are."

"Since you're already up, could you maybe fix the coffee?" So I start another pot before heading back to the computer and the writing. "It was a dark and stormy night when..." What was I gonna say? Oh yes, "...when out of nowhere..."

"Honey, I think the dog wants out."

"So how 'bout letting her out?" I think, rather testily. He's between me and the back door where the dog is heading. But nooooo... So I'm up and wouldn't you know, the dog has already messed on the floor. Guess who cleans it up? After washing my hands, I head out of the kitchen.

"Ah, coffee?"

Coffee fixed, I stalk back to the computer. And so it goes...

And yet, I think how A.'s life is. She lives by herself with only her cat to keep her company. I'm sure that has its own set of problems.

And yet, we both struggle to keep writing, trying to make a difference.