Why do you write? (Brian Katcher)

Someone once said that being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life. And this is sort of true. Whenever I think about starting up the fight club again, or getting back my winter job at that Colorado hotel, that little voice tells me I have to get back to work.

So why not call it quits? Have an evening to myself for once? Or better yet, spend some quality time with my daughter. I think she's in the fourth grade. What drives me to write until my fingers bleed?

Well, for one thing, there's the fact that I'm about to turn 42. Were it not for my successful writing career, I'd be the midst of a major midlife crisis. But every time I'm tempted to call up my ex-girlfriend Jennifer and ask what she's been doing since starring in 'The Hunger Games', I look at my boxes of unsold books and think 'Eh, beats buying a sports car.'

And then of course, there are my fans. My friend and fellow writer Antony John once ask me if I answered my fan mail. I responded that of course I do. He agreed, stating that he takes time every night to write back to his fans.

Every night. He gets fan letters every day. Wow. Must be nice.

But hey, maybe most of my readers are the silent type. The ones who post their reviews online.



But at least I'm making a difference. I get to speak at high schools and libraries all the time. Of course, I'm such a nerd that I take personal days from my job as a librarian so I can go work in other libraries.

And yes, I have been told that I look like Seth Rogen.

Stay in school kids.