Daphne Mitchell works at home, in her study. Surrounded by aloe plants, ferns, African violets, and fluorescent lights, she sits at her Selectric with eyes closed, fingers delicately perched on the keys, waiting for inspiration.

Sometimes she steals from others, from television. More likely, she takes stuff right off the news. And every now and then, when she's real desperate and no one's looking, she steals from herself.