My name is Brandy. I am a workaholic.

Bursts of laughter normally escape from me when I read the words “writing can be a lonely profession.” This month, I stopped laughing.

In February I unintentionally buried myself in ten big editing projects: a few books, book reviews, and the infamous university business journal I was swearing about two days ago. Because one of my goals this year is to save up enough money to live off of so that I can quit my day newspaper editing job and concentrate only on freelance writing, I was eager to complete every project I had on time. Turning in ten projects on time meant that I had to hibernate – literally. For weeks I did nothing but stare at my laptop and write or research from the time I got off work until I fell asleep at the computer. About 3 a.m. I would decide it was time to shut the computer down and get my four hours of sleep before showing up at the newspaper. Maybe I would eat dinner, maybe not. Weekends were my time to catch up on sleep and work on more freelance projects.

I haven’t seen or talked to too many people during this time. This wasn’t intentional either. I was just so focused on getting the projects done.

This month, let’s just say few people are happy with me. People close to me have demanded to know why I have not been in contact for more than a month (around the time the projects picked up). When I try to explain my 1:43 a.m. revelation [that I didn’t realize until it was too late that I overextended myself this time, and that although it is okay to take on 10 projects, agreeing to complete them all by the same day – March 10 – probably wasn’t the smartest thing], very few listen. The fact that for the first time in my life I could accurately be called a workaholic is no excuse for disconnecting myself from people.

I don’t know what to say to this. I agree I have done a really crappy job of keeping in contact with people since taking on more and more projects, but what comes after that? Writing is something I have to do by myself. I can’t talk on the phone and write for a project at the same time. I have to concentrate on the work itself – especially because people are paying me to do my best. Do I take less projects so that I have time to spend with others? I won’t have a dime to my name (whoever tells you newspapers pay well is telling you a bold face lie) but I will have time. Am I wrong to work so much and not call people like I use to? Am I really too busy to pick up the phone and have a 10 minute conversation? (I think I am but am I lying to myself?) Does this make me a horrible friend?

I don’t have answers for those questions. I just know that for me, right now, writing is a lonely profession. I am saddened. I don't know how to completely repair relationships that have suffered.

All I know is that I have to keep writing.