To enable myself to write full time, my work/life balance can't be too loose or too strict. It's critical to feed the passion and provide for myself and find the perfect levels for each.
Being a writer is my full-time job. Predictably, at most of my book signings and appearances, some people greet me with a wishful expression, and I know they are thinking, "I wish I could stay home and write full time and make a living." One twenty-something approached me not long ago and blurted, "You are living the dream! You are who I want to be."
It's true, I am living the writer's dream, but it isn't self-sustaining - it's one that comes with responsibilities and coordination. It doesn't take much for an untended dream to slide into chaos. Being a writer requires maintenance. Every few months, I make it a point to stop and analyze my schedule and re-set my goals and purpose. Without attention to these details, my dream takes off on tangents and can easily splinter into tasks that may not feed the dream and can redirect my energy and hijack my days.