Thanks for this Ian.

As for me, perhaps because I have not decided to develop my writing talent earlier, say in my twenties when I’m sure I would have been thinking of things high profile as equating to success or at least the natural recognition of my ability, I don’t envy any other writer’s life, because I’m quite content developing my own writerly life. I think that’s the real journey for any writer or artist – it’s about self-expression, so it’s no good trying to be someone else because that is just a waste of time and energy and missing the point. When topics such as writer or artist envy come up I tend to think what a mistake it would have been if say Charles Dickens had of decided William Shakespeare was better than him or Monet had of thought Da Vinci was so much cleverer so why bother? Everyone has their uniqueness to offer, and what a shame if they don’t, whether it leads to ‘big’ things or not.

Anyway, that’s what I think.
Joanne