WHY we should write is because we have to, we've always written stories and poems and articles, and when we couldn't - well, we'd tell them out loud. The art of telling stories goes back to the earliest history of humanity. Certainly goes back to our childhoods, as all writers know. When I was five I rhymed "stars" with "Mars" and beguiled my older cousins with my little  intergalactic poem. I told my sister fairytales every night after lights out (we shared a room). I drove the horse to school and entertained my brothers behind me with brave stories of knights and swordsmanship.

Always, always wanted to be a writer. I called it "journalist" in those days, didn't know better, I wanted to write, and I did. I was never a journalist. In February 2010 I published my first article, unpaid, but Rick Lauber at Alberta Caregiver gave me a start and I'm grateful.

WHEN should we write?

• WHEN THE MOON IS SILVER AND GOLD OVER THE YARDARM
• WHEN THE MOON IS BLUE AND COLD AND WE'RE LOST IN STARDUST
• WHEN WE CAN'T AFFORD COFFEE
• WHEN THE CAT JUST THREW UP ON OUR FOOT
• WHEN OUR SPOUSE BUYS A TRUCK AND IS GONE FOR TWO MONTHS
• WHEN HE'S WORKING ON THE ROAD
• WHEN HE'S HOME AND FEELS ROMANTIC WE CAN SAY
• NOT NOW, HONEY, I'M WRITING.
• IF NOT NOW, WHEN?
• IF NOT HERE, WHERE?
• WHEN OUR PEN RUNS OUT OF INK AND WE HAVE TO USE A LIPSTICK ON THE BATHROOM MIRROR
• WHEN OUR COMPUTER CRASHES LIKE A NORTH KOREAN MISSILE
• WHEN THE STARS RUN OUT OF FIRE AND THE EARTH BOILS
• WHEN LOUISE BLOUIN MACBAIN PAINTS SAM MCGEE IN THE FURNACE AND SELLS IT TO YELLOWKNIFE TOWN HALL
• WHEN READERS DON'T LIKE IT
• WHEN PUBLISHERS DON'T ASK FOR IT
• WHEN OUR CHILDREN TELL THEIR FRIENDS WE'RE LAWYERS WHO WORK AT HOME
• WHEN OUR LOVED ONE IS A STRANGER
• WHEN OUR PROFESSORS ARE FRIENDS
• WHEN OUR TEACHERS WANT US TO BE...
• WHO AND WHAT WE REALLY ARE...
• THAT'S THE MOST FUN IN THE WORLD
• I WISH IT FOR YOU, MY FELLOW WRITERS
• MY CRITICS AND MY READERS
• MY REVIEWERS
• THERE IS NO JOY GREATER THAN CREATING A WORK OF ART FROM ONE'S OWN HEAD
• RIGHT NOW.
• BEFORE LUNCH
• AFTER LUNCH
• WITH AN AVOCADO SANDWICH ON THE PAGE AND A CUP OF TEA ON THE KEYBOARD
• WITH A CAT DRAPED OVER THE SIDE OF OUR DESK
• WHEN THE SUN COMES UP
• IN THE AFTERNOON
• WHEN IT'S NINE IN THE MORNING IN ENGLAND
• AND WE LIVE IN ALBERTA OR WASHINGTON, DC
• IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
• DISCIPLINED OR LAISSEZ FAIRE LIKE ME
• BEFORE LAST CALL OR WHEN YOU'RE DRUNK
• WHEN YOU HAVEN'T HAD A DRINK FOR NINETEEN YEARS
• JUST WRITE.