Interaction Required

Hi! Remember me?
Yes, it's been awhile, but I'm still here...plucking away. My family and I are struggling. Although we now have jobs and can pay our measly bills, we're still living in a 22ft travel trailer with three dogs. For those of you keeping count, that's three people + three dogs divided by 22ft of cramped space and stale air. Dog hair and B.O. are the biggest issues. Obviously when I'm not writing, I'm cleaning. And might I say, "Thank God for a good vacuum!" And Swiffer Dusters,
And disinfecting wipes,
And (last but not least) air freshener!
Although my life is anything but settled, I'm still writing. I have commandeered the tiny, fold-down table in the trailer as my desk territory. I have my laptop. I have my printer and I have a coffee pot. What more could a girl ask for?? Well, perhaps a door. You know, a door that is attached to four walls providing privacy when said door is closed.
But I digress.
We're as settled as can be until we can afford a house of our own. We'll get there...eventually.
Now I'm turning my efforts toward getting to know my new town and community. It's easy for me to make friends. Harder to keep them once they find out how...eccentric I am. I think Salem will be different in that department. There are plenty of people here who are the same brand of eccentric as me, if not more so. That's why we chose Salem. It seems to be where "my kind" migrates.
We've been here four months and I've noticed my need for interaction is growing increasingly urgent. I need to be with other writers. I crave stimulating conversation on the subject I've devoted my life to. I cannot tell you how hard that is to find. Once I do find it, I weep for the person on the receiving end of my deluge. Think about it: I've been holding all of this in for...how long?? Months? No, years! I'm going to be a chattering time-bomb of repressed ideas, expressions and dreams.
How can any writer contain themselves with such riches?
Easier than I can, apparently.
Since I've been in Salem, I've met two women who have always dreamed of writing a book. One of those women has a list of story ideas waiting to be written...but she doesn't do it!
How is this possible?!?
When I was starting out, there was no way I could ignore my muse until a later, more convenient time. You don't argue with your muse! A writer is ruled by their muse, so much so that it robs them of sleep, gets them in trouble at work, makes them pull to the side of the freeway when an idea hits them.
I have another example that irks me. The other day, I watched the Lifetime movie about J.K.Rowling's story. If the movie is accurate, she wrote all seven Harry Potter books and left them sitting in a box (albeit a decorative box) for ten years before she let anyone have a peek at it.
That would drive me insane!
I want everyone to read my books. At this point, anyone will do. And Heaven help the person who shows a glimmer of interest in my work. I'm shoving stories at them left and right. "Here, read this. You'll like this one. Here's a short story. Do you like Fantasy stuff? Try this one."
Sure. I sound desperate, but the truth of the matter boils down to two things:
1.) As Stephen King said in his book "On Writing", everyone needs their Ideal Reader, someone who will read their stuff and be perfectly honest about what they read.
2.) Writers need the interaction of other writers. If they're anything like me, they might implode if they don't get the interaction they need. More so if you're an introverted writer. You could be a literary genius, but if you don't get out there and meet people, no one will ever know you exist.

I thought that was the end of my post, but as I reread, I felt the need to add a critical piece of advice. When you're talking to a writer who is spilling their creative guts to you about their work, listen to them. Don't shut them off or find some way to get away from them (unless they're creepy, and you know what I mean by creepy.) Perhaps they're just like me. They haven't had a kindred spirit to talk with. Once the initial barrage is over, your relationship could have the potential for give-and-take.
Too often I've met writers who don't care about anybody else's stuff. Their work is all that exists to them. Sure, your time is valuable, but you might be looking at your Ideal Reader. The motor-mouth you meet at a party could be your most valuable critic in the future. Give 'em a chance. You never know...