Jane Kenyon's advice to writers

 Jane Kenyon’s poem, mentioned in yesterday’s note, reminded me of her advice to writers.

• Be a good steward of your gifts.

• Protect your time.

• Feed your inner life.

• Avoid too much noise.

• Read good books. Have some good sentences in your ears.

• Be by yourself as often as you can.

• Walk.

• Take the phone off the hook.

• Work regular hours.

Her gentle advice is, to me, more useful than the Ten Commandments.