Although continuing to write as if everything is business as usual is quite hard at the moment, I think it’s important to try. My reasons are as follows:

• Whatever you write about, someone is going to benefit from it, no matter how mundane it may seem in the face of an existential crisis. For example, we have to think about new carpets at some point, so we will be reading about how best to make the choice. If you write about carpet-choosing, you won’t be helping people like me if you suddenly stop.

• If you write fiction, there are lots of us who want some escapism. Every time I cough or sneeze I almost have a heart attack from fear. So please keep writing fiction, if that’s what you do!

• At some point this pandemic will be a thing of the past. Then we will need “ordinary” content more than ever.

Keep well, keep safe, and keep washing your hands.