I was a municipal liaison in 2004. There were so few of us then that I was responsible for a sizable chunk of a substantial western state, including its capital. It was a learning experience, and I believe I have some giveaways, still.

I would do a virtual write-in depending on what’s being used as the connection program.

I’d like to offer a bit of encouragement as writers enter that home stretch with all those holiday hurdles: What you’re doing is amazing, no matter if that final word count is 50, 500, 5000, or 50000 words. Many people say they’ll write a novel someday but never put word one on the page. The act of starting at all, of showing up when our lives get so busy, is courageous.

Hot drinks, especially in November. I make the morning’s French-pressed coffee for everyone; once that’s gone, it’s a second pot or tea-by-the-mug. Sometimes I drink hot water.

I’m getting words down, have some work that was put off, have chores to do, so that’s distracting me from getting in my head and letting the words take flight from my head to perch on the digital page. I don’t really know these characters, so I’m trying to understand their conflicts. It is what it is . . . and there’s laundry! zips away

My ideal place is more of an ideal time: nighttime when it’s quiet and I have no demands on my time and can dream onto a page.