Writing - Dream Job

Many people say they would like to be a professional author.

Including me.
Is it possible?
Of course, depending on ...

Your Personality
Writing requires hours of working alone, being disciplined enough to set your own work schedule or timetable and stick to it.
Your social skills need to be good enough to enable book signings, interviews and talks. Selling your product is vital at many stages.
You need to be strong when family and friends wish for your attention if you are working from a room at home. 
You need to be able to say 'No', When you are successful people will be asking for your help with their manuscripts.
You need a positive attitude.  Does failure and criticism send you spiralling into depression or make you determined to do better? 
Many decisions are made for you, especially if traditionally published - if you like to be in control this may be a problem.
Do you like deadlines?
You need patience. 
You need belief in yourself.
I hope you enjoy research, for your stories and for the profession.

Financial Aspects
What do you need to earn?
You need to manage your tax, carefully.
No regular wage.
Only a few authors have best seller success.
You will be self-employed and as such, unless you pay for insurance, no sick pay is available.
You will need money for conferences, courses books and, perhaps, travel.

Business of writing
You need to understand how the world of books works. Publishers, editors, agents, retailers.
What does marketing entail? What will you need to do? Only the best selling books get money thrown at them by publishing companies.
Daily news via online or monthly publications such as The Bookseller.
Are you making links with this world via social media?

Other Considerations
Are you happy with your hobby turning into your job?
How long are you willing to try and make it work? What is your back up plan if it does not turn out to be your dream job.
Are you prepared for networking on the internet?
Are you prepared to diversify? Factual writing as well as fiction, try a different genre. write short stories for magazines, read stories for audiobooks.


Chase your passion, enjoy your writing and if you can cope with all of the above your hobby can metamorphose into your dream job. 

Could I do it? 
I would need help with tax but otherwise I am sure it's possible. Working towards.