It seems fairly commonly accepted that if an artist - or more specifically, a writer - is to produce good output, they must make sure to absorb good input as well. By which is usually meant, if you want to be a writer who writes, you also need to be a writer who reads. This once led me to make a terrible mistake when I was teaching, and I have gone to great pains to ensure I never made it again.

I have to confess that I’ve become a bit impatient with people who say they would like to write, but who don’t actually do any writing. I can’t think of many circumstances, even in times of the greatest extremity, when it would be totally impossible for someone to write if they really wanted to.