In the book Telling True Stories, which you ought to buy if you haven't yet, Susan Orlean asks five questions of the would-be nonfiction writer:
"Why do you want to be a writer? It seems simplistic, but it's a question worth asking yourself over and over. Did you become a writer because you like talking to people? Or because you like telling stories? What is it? Writing isn't the world's easiest profession, and it's certainly not the most lucrative. It works only when done with a high degree of commitment and authentic desire.
"Do you love language? Language thrills me. Sometimes I will read a word that I haven't come across in a long time or that I didn't know, and I can't wait to include the word in a story.
"Are you deeply curious? Do you really wonder about the world around you? If you don't, this isn't the right profession for you.
"Even more important: Are you a bit of a control freak? Being a control freak is a very valuable thing. You have readers in the backseat of your car, and you're taking them somewhere. You must be in control. As you're reporting, you must be humble, but when you return to your desk and start writing, you must take charge and say to your readers, 'Sit down. I'm going to take you for a great ride.'
"Most important of all: Do you find the world and the people in it a marvel? Bring to your work the sense of excitement and discovery that kids have. We're all mature adults who have seen and done a lot. Still, when you go out to find a story, do it with a sense of delight. If you feel it, your readers will, too."
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