The pen is mightier than the sword always seemed to me the most idiotic of mantras. But more seriously... I think it makes sense not to leap until you feel happy about it. But some of us - perhaps most in the end - have to leap to see what we can really achieve. And in spite of what Doctorow keeps on repeating an awful lot of people do make modest to decent livings out of full-time writing. It's not easy and it takes time. I do cringe at some of the celeb culture stuff now going on to be frank. Crude self publicity isn't pretty.