At this time, our family had only one computer, so it was pretty common for us kids to compete over computer time. My siblings wanted to play computer games and I wanted to type my stories.
Obviously, I took the conflict personally. There are two things I have since learned from this:
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 I self-published my first book while working three jobs. This meant that I was editing, formatting, communicating with the publisher, copyrighting, and marketing while I was gone from my home six days a week. How did I do it? More importantly, how can you do it--taking what small amount of time you have to make a big impact?
Here are my top 5 tips for the writer who has little time to write.  DR. FICTION
Greetings, and welcome to the Dr. Fiction Show! I’m your host, Dr. Fiction, and today our guest is Punctuation Society’s favorite: Comma! Welcome, Comma. COMMA Thanks for having me. I must say, I am gratified at the number of times you used my services in your opening comments. DR. FICTION Well, I have a reputation to maintain. I understand you do as well. COMMA I used to have a decent reputation. It’s getting tarnished these days. I must be picking up some of the bad habits of my cousin, Apostrophe. DR. FICTION Can you give an example of what you do—at least, what you are supposed to do?
 This may seem like a picky rule, but if you actually pay attention to it, you'll solve a lot of potential reader confusion before it even starts: Keep any modifying language as close to the subject as possible.
Allow me to explain. I recently came across the following horrendous sentence. (Don't ask me where. Suffice it to say that I read everything.)  DR. FICTION
Welcome to the Dr. Fiction Show! Today we are interviewing a representative from the Punctuation Society: Apostrophe! Welcome, Apostrophe. APOSTROPHE Thanks for having me, Doctor. DR. FICTION Apostrophe, I understand that your appearances lately have included both legal and illegal performances. Can you tell me a little bit about your legal work?
 The idea for "Reflections" came from a dream. I really don't remember the details of the dream, just one scene from it, in which an avenging golden angel stood in a mossy forest, and every raindrop in the forest reflected the face of the angel. It was eerie and beautiful and completely mesmerizing.
(Side note to Dr. Who fans: I think this may have been influenced by the Weeping Angels, whom I have placed at the very top of my Most Scary Dr. Who Villains list, ahead of the Silents and the Vashta Nerada.) When I woke up, I decided to write a story about the angel.  Have you ever noticed that parents are conspicuously absent from many juvenile and young adult fiction stories? Count your favorite heroes from fantasy or sci-fi, and you’ll find nary a parent among them.
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