It's like I say in my writing seminars: If you can possibly do anything else in the world besides be a writer, do it. Those of us who make our living at it only do so because we're temperamentally unsuited for anything else. And that's one reason I didn't go for a career in music, although I can sing fairly well. I've just always been too shy or too lacking in confidence to put myself out there. And too grossed out with a lot of the people I met in the music bidnez.

With writing, you can go hole up in your office and produce stuff. With music, you have to be willing to be very "out there." Some people are tempermentally suited for this way of life and for others, who aren't and have to fake it, it wears on the spirit.

But I also know it's possible to have music be deeply satisfying for a whole lifetime whether or not you make your living with it. I'm a lot happier now that I've realized that my voice, whether my musical voice or my writing voice, is meant for service and I try to make it count that way.

ww