Many writers suffer from confusion when dragged out of their works in progress to take part in the real world. This is perfectly understandable. There you are, grappling with issues that no one else can comprehend, with characters who are walking a knife edge (emotional or otherwise) and only you can save them – or add to their woes – when suddenly you have to deal with what’s for dinner, or placate a boss who very unreasonably expects you to complete tasks during working hours, or you have to collect the cleaning, or tackle any one of a hundred things you’d rather not be doing because you want to write. Inhabiting your fictional world can feel more tangible than everyday life.
Penning non-fiction also messes with writers’ minds, but in the opposite direction. Writing for monthly magazines can confuse columnists to such an extent that the real world makes the Mad Hatter appear sane!