Professional direction and becoming a writer

Frederic says he is confused about what to do professionally and asks which areas, talents or skills he should explore.

The Wonders ask what he would do if he could do anything without fear, judgement or guilt; he answers that he would be a writer, and they reply 'what's stopping you?' They advise against an immediate career change, recommending instead a transitional process: keep the day job while writing in every free moment.

He should write short stories, longer stories, books, poetry, articles — noting that many writers finance themselves with travel articles while writing the book they really want to write.

They say he has a good sense of poetry and rhyme, a good perspective on childhood ideas, and a liking for romance, and suggest he could write a romance novel, even under a pen name.

The key point is to write prolifically without demanding that the result be a bestseller or be accepted by publishers; submissions will bring rejections and acceptances, and publication and income will follow.