"I don't remember deciding to become a writer. You decide to become a dentist or a postman. For me, writing is like being gay. You finally admit that this is who you are, you come out and hope that no one runs away"

In this quote, Mark Haddon illustrates the intrinsic and deeply personal nature of ending up being an author, contrasting it with professions like dentistry or postal work, which are often chosen through a more straightforward decision-making procedure. By stating, "I don't remember choosing to end up being an author", Haddon indicates that writing is not simply a profession choice however rather an integral element of his identity. It's something that has actually constantly belonged of him, rather than an intentional path chosen to name a few profession alternatives.

Haddon's comparison of writing to being gay highlights a sense of fundamental identity and the journey toward self-acceptance. Just as coming out is a recommendation of an important part of one's identity, recognizing oneself as a writer involves accepting an intrinsic quality that requires honesty and openness. This analogy underscores the raw, individual journey intertwined with fears of rejection or misconception from others, similar to the stress and anxieties individuals might deal with when exposing their sexual orientation. The hope "that nobody runs away" speaks with a universal human fear of alienation when exposing one's true self, whether that revelation has to do with one's literary aspirations or sexuality.

Furthermore, Haddon's expression supplies insight into the psychological vulnerability that accompanies both being a writer and being gay. In both cases, there is an extensive direct exposure of one's inner self to the world, which needs nerve and credibility. This connection implies that composing, much like living honestly as one's real self, is an act of bravery-- a leap into uncertainty with the hope of approval, understanding, or at the minimum, the individual fulfillment of living truthfully.

In essence, Mark Haddon uses this example to stress that writing is not merely a task or pastime for him; it is an essential expression of identity that, like all expressions of self, seeks understanding and validation.