Paper dolls were my favourite toy when I was a little girl. When my first play was being produced I was interviewed on television as part of the promotion and the host asked me how I liked having a play of mine produced.

"It's wonderful." I said. "Just like playing with real-live pap---per dolls!!!" Discovery time. I hadn't realized.

And it was. And wasn't. Because they have to come to life and breathe and be real and suffer, and I suffer with them. Which is what I am doing right now. I am finally inside them, inside the story, and I am so tired, hunched over the computer. I get up and stretch every hour or so (longer than that because I lose track of time) and I climb stairs to keep me limber.

I have to quit and cook for people over the next few days. I'll be back. I have to take care of my paper dolls.