Is the story interesting? That's the question I ask myself the most often. A story can have a lot of failings, but if it also fails in this aspect, then I can't consider it a good story.
I never did, in all honesty. I came from quite the strict household and my two options were always doctor or lawyer. Luckily, from as early as I can remember, I wanted to pursue the former so I never felt very stressed about it. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately since I now have a career I love, life always throws you its own twists and turns.
I've been writing since middle school. I always loved anime and manga, but never had the patience to learn to draw. Funny enough, writing is another profession that takes a lot of patience and time to get right, haha. The first time I made up my mind was in middle school for a creative project. We were given a lot of freedom so I wrote the first four chapters of my very first novel. I can't remember the name or the plot, but I still remember the silence in the room as I read the story. If anyone's ever been in a room full of kids just at the start of puberty, you probably know how much that weighs. Ever since then, I've been addicted to people giving their undivided attention to my stories :)
