Do all writers have OAI? Hey! This is a serious disease.

I discovered I have OAI in high school. As I sat in class I looked out the window at the big puffy clouds and imagined a whole world in them; a lake with an island and on it, a mansion with only cool people, horses, dogs, cats and exotic wild animals as well as streams, clear water and fish. My over active imagination got me into a lot of trouble back then. I got poor grades and classmates whispered things about me. My OAI made up things they would say, even if they weren’t clever enough to come up with them.

A little later in life, OAI helped me in times of boredom. I could make up a story to tell myself whenever I couldn’t sleep. Now, whenever my husband and I forget to get a book on tape for a long drive, no problem. I always have a story I can tell saved up from waiting in the dentist’s office or driving by myself. I have learned that OAI needs an outlet or two or it will really make you crazy. . . . so I paint and write and tell people stories whenever I can.

Do other writers suffer from OAI? Do any of you have it so bad it has been hard to live a normal life? How about those of you who don’t know you have it? Do you know you have it now?