Shout Out Thanks

If you don't mind, I'll decline to say my name. This is an anonymous organization, isn't it? Okay, here goes:

Hello.
...and I'm an addict.
Heh.
That is kind of weird without the name in there.

Anyway, I've been hooked for about four days now, and -

Hey, don't look at me like that! I thought this was a support group. Why do you think I want to be anonymous? This is embarrassing. It happened so fast...

I played around with it in the past. You know, on and off, mostly in college. I was on it pretty regularly for a while, the summer between sophomore and junior year. I was working two jobs with no days off, had relationship problems, lacked self-esteem and confidence. Just needed to blow off steam, make myself feel good. You know, the whole bit. You could have ticked off the excuses from some classic list, actually. I thought I was hooked there for a little while, but this is the real deal. Full addiction. I mean, wham! bam! I'm a literal fiend.

It was just like coming home, you know? Picked it back up like I never stopped, except it's going by a different name now. I'm not with any of the same people, so far, but there's a lot more of them than before. And man, talk about generous! They pass stuff around like there's no tomorrow! It would be criminal how encouraging everyone is, if it were illegal. You know?

Seriously, I hadn't even thought about it for years. But then, I don't know, a month ago maybe, out of nowhere came this idea. You know how it is. Actually, it was a dream I had. I woke up, and couldn't do anything until I wrote it down. Hadn't done anything in years but a few poetry fragments, some journalizing; strictly stream-of-consciousness rambles I wouldn't show anyone. Suddenly I'm doing this story like a mad fiend! By the time I got control of myself I had just enough time to throw on some clothes and run to catch my bus. I'm just lucky I got to work on time, and no one could tell what I'd been doing all morning!

That story had me by the neck from the get-go. I was satisfied with editing for a while, but the next thing I knew I was e-mailing it to friends. Even that wasn't enough... You all know how it is. Everyone has to have a read. So, you know how it went down from there: straight to Writing.com and a free portfolio.

I thought I could control it. I'd just put the one up, see what people had to say, and that would be the end of it. But of course it wasn't, and for the past four days I can barely pull myself away from the computer. I'm high on ideas day and night. I've been reading and writing all over the place, caught in a cycle of editing and proof-reading and rating and reviewing! I thought I couldn't get any lower, but now someone's given me an Upgraded Membership!

God help me, I might write a book...

I know you guys can help me. I just need some help. Please... I'm an author!

*The most generous gifts are anonymous, for they expect no thanks. Thank you.*