Kafka on writing:

April 8, 1914:
"Yesterday incapable of writing even one word. Today no better. Who will save me?" Feb 10, 1915:

"My neighbor talks for hours with the landlady. Both speak softly, the landlady almost inaudibly, and therefore so much the worse. My writing, which has been coming along for the past two days, is interrupted, who knows for how long a time? Absolute despair."

On asking writers for favours: 📚

a) feel free to ask if a writer can possibly read a manuscript, offer advice, give a talk, write a blurb etc, but

b) respect their time. Most writers, except for the top 5 %, have other jobs and do a ton of free work.

c) Take a no graciously! On blurbs:

🖊️ As a reviewer, I skip blurbs. They tell me more about a writer's status than about the book.
🖊️ As a writer, I will try to read a promising MS if asked well in advance.
🖊️ Big issue: blurbs & reference letters exclude writers who don't have access, networks, clout.