I always knew writing might just be a hobby. Even when it was a hobby, I loved how writing gave me a chance to shape the ideas in my imagination into a form that I could share with other people. Aside from everything else, I simply enjoy making up stories and sharing them.
Once writing became my full-time job, it changed my life in more ways. For one, I don’t have to do a regular day-job anymore, which is great for me, because most jobs besides writing fiction bore me. When I get bored, I usually space out and wish I was writing. Also, because of my writing career, I have to travel a lot. I’m on the road about half of the year. There are positives and negatives to this. It is fun to visit new places, to eat out, and to meet new people. My sister travels with me, which is a blast. The down side is that I’m away from my family more than I like. So far, I make more money writing than I did at any of my previous jobs, which is nice.
Writing full-time also makes me a little insecure. I hope that people will enjoy my stories. It feels odd to think that many strangers know my name from my books. And even when I make good money one year, I can’t be certain the money will be good again the next, so my wife and I have to plan and budget.
Most of all, I love it when I can spend a day writing. It is my passion. Whether I was rich or poor, whether writing books was my full-time job or a hobby, I think I would always write for the sheer pleasure of the process.