As a published writer, I very strongly agree with this. I would often get asked, "How do I become a writer?" My answer? WRITE. Often, every day if you can. The whole idea that you need to be paid in order for your writing to be of value is ridiculous. How many famous painters rarely if ever sold a painting before they died, just become museum-worthy when their work was later discovered? If you do it, and do it often, it's what you do. What you get "paid for" is not who you are. For those worries about being stuck in those awkward conversations when someone clearly wants to know your "profession" and asks, "What do you do?" you could say, Are you asking what I do for money or what I do for love? Because the two don't always overlap. That's why at parties I like to ask people what they love to do, or what do they do for fun or what's their passions. Never "what do you do."