Are you a writer?

I don't know of the existence of Bloggers Anonymous or any similar 12-step program [is that what happens when you get a 6-pack of Maritimers doing the 2-step to some serious fiddle?] but a number of years ago I did commit the following set of questions to paper:

ARE YOU A WRITER?
by Joe Blades

1. Has writing ever made your home life unhappy?
2. Has writing affected your reputation?
3. Have you ever felt remorse after writing?
4. Has writing caused a decrease in your ambition or efficiency?
5. Have you ever written to get money to pay debts or solve some financial difficulty?
6. Have you ever lost time from work due to writing?
7. After writing did you ever feel that you must return as soon as possible and edit your writing?
8. After writing a successful poem did you have a strong urge to return and write more?
9. Have you ever written until your last dollar was gone?
10. Have you ever written to finance your writing?
11. Have you ever sold anything to finance your writing?
12. Have you ever been reluctant to use writing time for "normal" activities?
13. Has writing make you careless about the welfare of yourself and your family?
14. Have you ever written to escape worry or trouble?
15. Have you ever written longer than you had planned?
16. Have you ever committed or considered committing an illegal act to finance writing?
17. Does writing cause you to have difficulty sleeping?
18. Do arguments, disappointments or frustration create the uncontrollable urge to write?
19. Did you ever have an urge to celebrate good fortune by a few hours of writing?
20. Have you ever considered self-destruction as a result of writing?

If you answer YES to seven or more questions, you are a writer. As with any other creative compulsion, you may not be able to fully comprehend it by yourself. You may need help. You may need a community of writers around you.