I was a huge fantasy geek growing up. I was the dungeon master in my D&D game.
Contrary to popular belief, the experience of terror does not make you braver. Perhaps though, it is easier to hide your fear when you're afraid all the time.
You're a writer. Make it up.
A certain luxury when you get to writing a novel is to have the space to have your characters just banter.
I've never flown a kite.
And I didn't grow up wanting to be a director. I grew up wanting to be a writer, so for me, that was always the goal - to be a novelist, not a screenwriter. And I think, again, if I didn't have the novels, maybe I'd be much more frustrated by not having directed yet.