Hi Ian,

Thanks for this post from Zena.

When I first started reading it I felt she was missing the point so I was glad to find later in the post that she thinks family and living life are so important, in themselves, as well as to the writer’s life. I know some writers have the need, the creative impulse, to write all the time, like Rilke, and that is fine, though as I understand it I think Rilke’s family missed out a bit which I wouldn’t like for myself. But it is who they are, it is what they need to do, it is their life, it is their choice. I think probably for most writers though, balance is best, variety, things other than writing, living. If nothing else, I’m sure it makes their writing better.

Thanks again,
Joanne