"we write to taste life twice..."

“Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.”-― Kurt Vonnegut, Bagombo Snuff

 Are you are a parent who believes their child is the next J.K. Rowling or James Patterson?  Are you are an adult who wonders if you missed your true calling? Here are a few neglected observations to identify a prospective writer.

1. Being sent to their room is or never  was a form of "punishment". They think soccer, baseball, ballet, swimming, cheer leading practice blows.
2. They have been  exaggeratedly accused of being "anti-social" on more than one occasion. A friend cancels a play date or dinner plans and they seem really OKAY with that because they really are OKAY with that. Solitude is more delicious than cake.
3. They are constantly sleep deprived either from staying up all night reading with a flashlight under the covers or up all night trying to finish their first novel, blog, freelance assignment, living will.
4. They like to listen more than they speak.
5. They privately keep a journal or online blog and immediately say, " Hey, I can use that." after every word that comes out of your mouth.
6. Family members are afraid they will write a story or book exposing all of grandma's sordidly tempting cabbage recipes (or worse).
7. They desperately want you to understand that writing is a solitary art which for most human beings requires copious amounts of time alone spent locked away behind closed doors.
8. There are books all over the house. There are twenty next to the bed, thirty under the bed, three on the nightstand, two in the bathroom.
9. They ask for a Kindle, Nook or Barns and Noble gift card for every birthday and holiday.
10. They daydream and stare into space because they are formulating sentences or creating stories  in their minds.  P.S to parents... LET THEM BE