When I was a child I tried my hand at writing stories. I enjoyed it. I never went to school to write and I wonder what my life would have been like if I had. I think I have this notion that writers are artists and I have no idea what artists are all about. My wife was once married to a painter and she tells me stories of his adventures.

I don't have adventures...I just like to write, maybe that makes me an impostor in this art thing. I listen to other writers and I wonder how they came up with their ideas and sparkling prose. I'm writing a book, although right now I'm stuck at 40,000 words.

I wanted to become a lawyer before I died because it sounded neat. It was hard work and a lot of money and time. In the end the law has caused me a lot of pain. I charged too little and did too much. As I sit here and write this I wonder if it was all worth it. I think I did a lot of good, but I wish I enjoyed it more.

The law is more like verbal math than writing prose. You have your issue, your law, your facts, and then the analysis. Logic was never my strong point in school but I guess I got good at it. The whole legal process so formulaic that for a while I couldn't figure out how the "real" world worked anymore. I don't need all that to write. I just need a pen and paper.

I enjoy writing, which makes it feel like I'm cheating somehow.