"I made up my mind long ago to follow one cardinal rule in all my writing — to be clear. I have given up all thought of writing poetically or symbolically or experimentally, or in any of the other modes that might (if I were good enough) get me a Pulitzer prize. I would write merely clearly and in this way establish a warm relationship between myself and my readers, and the professional critics — Well, they can do whatever they wish."
I am with Asimov. I like simple reading for entertainment, for escapism, for my own pastime. Should I have the call to read anything taxing, it should be for study of some form. I write a great deal, including short stories, blogs, articles and letters, along with my fictional and non-fiction books. My circumstances differ from Asimov's. I cannot dedicate the whole of every day to writing as he could. But that does not mean I should not be as prolific as possible. As for critics, I consider them in a similar, but lesser, vein as teachers. "There are those who can and do. There are those who cannot, so teach. Then there are those who can do neither, but wish they could do at least a little, of either.