In next five to 10 years I probably would have done my best work, but I was afraid of having another 10 or 15 years ahead of me and feeling stale, so this was an opportunity to reinvigorate myself.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
Honestly, I feel like I spent the last 10 years just trying to work, just get my hands on the best material I could. I'd like to say that it was quite calculated and genius, my ability to take one step forward and two steps back.
It's quite a feeling to finish something you have been 10 years beholden to and to have a clean slate.
I'd retired for about six or seven years. Coming back to the business, I found that I was sort of not quite a has-been, and it wasn't a new career, it was just kind of difficult to crack the nut, so to speak.
From the beginning, I imagined I would have a long work life.
For 10 years, I'd been working as a freelance writer and editor, making money but not a living. It was a good arrangement family-wise, allowing me to stay home with our daughter, but not so great financially or, sometimes, ego-wise.
There's no way I would have thought I would have had the career that I did and the longevity. Absolutely no idea.
My career hadn't rocketed to the top of anything, but I've worked consistently and done things I've loved.
I don't think I could last in anything for 10 years doing a character.
I knew my successor would be better than me for the next stage of the company's life. And it was a relief - I'd been doing it for 30 years. My only worry was what the hell I was going to do with my time.
You can spend a lifetime, and, if you're honest with yourself, never once was your work perfect.