I'm hearing a lot about writing as a hobby today. So here's another little thread.

Lots of people enjoy writing. It's enriching, rewarding and promotes articulacy and self-expression. There are a lot of really talented amateur writers out there, many of whom have no desire ever to write for a living.

Ability alone doesn't determine whether you choose to become a professional writer or whether you decide to keep your writing as a hobby. Just as there some really good cooks out there who could - but don't want to - become professional chefs.

So why wouldn't you *want* to do something you love as a job? Well, there are lots of reasons.

Giving up your amateur status means giving up your freedom to write what you want, when you want. You're working for someone else now. You have to abide by their rules.

It also means more pressure: working with other people; meeting deadlines; paying bills. Some people just don't want all the baggage, stress and uncertainty that comes with being a professional writer.

It also means extra responsibility. Other jobs depend on what you do, and how well you do it. Other people's livelihoods - as well as your own - depend on you doing your job right.

Some writers just don't want that kind of responsibility, pressure or uncertainty. It doesn't mean they're not good enough to be professional writers; simply that they wouldn't enjoy some of the things that come with the job.

Because being a professional writer isn't just about writing. It's about teamwork, and taking criticism, and adapting to changed circumstances, and sometimes doing work you don't really want to do in order to help finance your project.

And yes, of course it can be fun. But the difference between being an amateur and a professional is that the amateur gets to do the fun part without having to worry about money, or other people, or do the work that isn't as enjoyable.

And this, as a reader, is what you pay for when you read the work of a professional writer. You pay for their expertise; their experience; their commitment; and the whole team of people they worked with to ensure that the end result was as good as it could possibly be.