SELF service
Writing demands attention and a certain insularity, but don’t let it tarnish your relationships, urges Adrian Magson
Adrian Magson
Egotistical, egomaniacal, self-regarding, selfcentred, introverted, thoughtless, regardless… I could go on, but I won’t. These are just a few of the alternative words for ‘selfish’, which the great George Orwell uttered about writers:
‘All writers are vain, selfish and lazy, and at the very bottom of their motives lies a mystery. Writing a book is a long, exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.’
Me, vain? Sure, I’ve been known on occasion to pass a window and check out my reflection (not every window – some are so full of special-offer posters they’re useless). And lazy? Well, it’s nice to kick back and relax sometimes, but I wouldn’t consider myself that, either.