So what do a bunch of writers do for fun? 
This isn’t a walked into a bar or screw in a lightbulb joke. I’m serious. 
The answer revolves, usually, around fine food, coffee or wine, complemented by some gallows humour about the industry.

A week or so ago, I met a bunch of local authors for lunch (there’s the food part) and, although we very methodically went around the table updating each other on our current projects and crossed fingers, the conversation inevitably descended (or was it ascended?) into industry ha-ha.

And here’s what we came up with. 
Editors oughta do house calls. 

I mean, let’s get real. Writers are introverts by nature and mostly have slippers and sweatshirts in our closets and the idea that we are supposed to go to the post office — not to mention New York — for work is just preposterous. Right? Plus, we are a’feared something fierce of approaching the mighty fire-breathing folks in the big publishing palace in the sky.

So, it’s simple. 
Editors and, heck, why not agents while we’re at it, will just stop by occasionally. 

Knock, knock. You in there?
I haven’t heard from you in awhile and I just wanted to check in. 
Do you have anything you want to share with me? 
Can I help with anything — an idea, a revision, a good cry?
Can I heat up your tea?
Let’s look through your stuff and see what grabs me. 
Ah ha. This is brilliant! You were holding out on me!
How’s your calendar? When would you like to get me the finished product?
And do you need some chocolate to help with that?

Oh, and here’s the best part. You can’t tidy up first because if your house is too clean, said editors and agents won’t think you’re hard at work and will fail to take you seriously and, god forbid, may drop you from their rounds. Win win.

So — settle in. Fill that hot water bottle and write. 
Someone’ll be by to look in on you soon.

(By the way, I can’t take total credit for the utter brilliance of this new business model, so when the world as we know it is replaced by a kinder and gentler one, here’s some of the folk you can thank:
Anne Bustard, Chris Barton, Cynthia Leitich Smith, Greg Leitich Smith, 
Julie Lake, Lindsey Lane, and Sean Petrie.)