Comment by bambax

> When I tell friends and family I’m working on a book, they innocently ask, “Oh, so you’re still on paternity leave?” -- No! I’m writing a book. It’s a real job!

"Real job", yes and no. Writing a book is an enormous amount of work, and people probably understand that. But, in most cases, it doesn't bring any real money, and that's what's confusing to strangers. "How do you make a living then?" is what they mean, I think.