Returning to a story via e-mail that sputtered out because I couldn't figure out why the second person, who's busier and maybe a bit better off, might write back at the time. Because, although in real life, them both being bored might be fuel enough, is that a story? What would make you write back to somebody that you only sort of know? Is there anything?(Maybe the other woman isn't as together as she looks...maybe she's a caregiver or something. Although demented parents and dying babies, as gross as it sounds when I put it in print like this, are having something of a publishing vogue right now...don't really want to duplicate that. But I guess a living baby could be distraction enough.)

I have got to stop submitting to so many contests. While winning one *could* be life changing and I could use that in kind of a drastic way, I've yet to even make a splash and they cost me time and money. really discouraging.