It’s just that I think we all as writers have to make a choice and then accept the consequences. I’ve kept a day-job, so I have to be prepared to deal with the limitations on my writing time. I also have to be prepared to deal with the possible limitations of my career.

Some folks can achieve wild success while maintaining other professional pursuits. John Grisham wrote The Firm at four in the morning before going into the law office. It can happen.

But often what you encounter are people who say they want to write so desperately but there’s this, and there’s that, and there’s this other reason why they can’t. And it boils down to what John Dufresne writes in The Lie That Tells the Truth. If all these obstacles can’t be overcome, then maybe you shouldn’t be trying to write.

So in the end, my point was to admire Ferrari’s dedication and committment in going all-in, moving across the country, and not worrying about risk or backup plans or anything like that.

It’s not the right choice for everyone, but it’s an admirable endeavor for those people who do totally immerse themselves in pursuit of their goals.

And, as you point out, the unfortunate reality is that applying total dedication is no guarantee of success either. That’s the damnable quandry of the whole thing.