Don’t you just love em? Sometimes you love them so much you want to throw them out the window.

They are brilliant when they work. In fact they make life easier for much of the population but when they crash…

My notebook computer is my lifeline in this writing industry. Not only does it allow me to type in all my stories, it also provides personal contact with other writers.

And a few weeks ago it died (well technically I think it just fainted)…

And had to be sent away for repairs…

For TWO WEEKS!!!

Okay, so I could deal with the no typing part. When I had an idea I just simply went back to pencil on paper which I loved because sometimes we need a break from a computer screen. Going back to basics can produce some awesome writing (hmmmm….could be a rumour but I’ve heard it has something to do with the usage of left or perhaps right side of the brain being more creative when you write by hand).

But what really drove me crazy was not being able to chat readily with my writer buddies.

People may not be aware of this but writing is a very lonely occupation. Some tend to think of it as an adventurous life, flitting around the world researching or doing book signings etc but in reality it is nothing like that for the majority of us. We sit in front of a computer or paper day after day with nobody around except our characters for company (and in case you are wondering…yes we do talk to the voices in our head!)

But with the advancement of computers comes a new wonder for us. The wonder of having personal contact with other writers instantly! No longer do we have to sit in our lonely little writing space…now we get to be part of online friendships and writing groups who support and encourage each other at the press of a key. They understand exactly what you are going through and will even procrastinate with you! (Writers have been known to clean their entire house just to put off working some days…).

And when that contact is suddenly taken away or severely limited, we feel like we are lone little writers again.

For the first week my poor computer was gone I accepted I wouldn’t be able to speak to my friends. The second week I started pining but knew it would soon be home.

But it wasn’t. It took another week to finally come back to me.

A total of THREE WEEKS!!!

When it arrived I ran outside and practically hugged the poor delivery man. I don’t think he’d ever seen anyone quite so happy to see a package.

The first thing I did?

Put it on the floor (my desk had no clear space and I sooo was not going to waste time moving things) and caught up on everything that had happened in my writing world!

Ahhhhhh I’m not alone after all…