Retiring from the scene

       This is the kind of story I only mention because of its sheer ridiculousness: in the Egypt Independent Amir Zaky reports that A young Egyptian writer retires, as:

Kareem al-Sayyad, a 31-year old Egyptian writer, recently announced his retirement through a Facebook event, saying that he would devote himself to studying music and proceeding with his academic career.

       The idea of 'retiring' at thirty-one from something like writing (via Facebook announcement, no less ...) suggests a basic misunderstanding of what being a 'writer' is. For al-Sayyad, being a writer was apparently not about writing but about being a (public) writer -- a role, or job, like any other.
       In fact, lots of 'real' writers often spend years or even decades not publishing anything -- but don't officially announce their retirements because they know that, hey, maybe, at some point ... (and because they know that it's not necessarily about publishing, or being part of the literary establishment, etc. but rather that it's simply about the writing ...).
       But:

Sayyad says, "The current state of the literary scene is very regressive. It depends on compliments and personal relations, and in the end you find yourself writing for your friends." This, as well as personal reasons, was behind his early retirement.

       What's wrong with writing for your friends ? Or yourself ? Or no one ? Who cares about the 'literary scene' ?
       Though come to think of it, there is a lot of local 'talent' here in New York I wouldn't mind seeing opting for this kind of early retirement .....