One of my literary idols, Ian McEwen, spoke with the WSJ for an interview, which was published today and I read this nugget that touched me deeply. It represents a difficult balance that all writers grapple with–some better than others:
“I find it impossible to simultaneously occupy public space and private space — it’s fine to talk and I like to give readings, and the students at Princeton more than engaged me. But being in public is contrary to the currents necessary to generate writing. I do feel desperate after a while, desperate to reclaim some silent core to myself.” (source)