It's the funniest thing. When someone asks me what I do for a living, I tell them, "I'm a writer." The standard response is, "No, really, what do you do?" Somehow, I always get lost in the conversation because I never expect that type of response. I end up floundering in hopes of someday finding a good response. --- So, how do you know you're a real writer? --- It has to be a certain look or smell that identifies you as a writer. Is it the turtleneck and mothball odor that give it away, or pe.