People often think that writers' lives are glamorous. Ernest Hemingway hunting game in Africa, for example, or F Scott Fitzgerald getting drunk in Paris. Even when these lives end in tragedy - such as those of the writers Sylvia Plath and Virginia Woolf - they still became the subject of feature films.

But some of the most important writers seemingly have the quietest lives. Alice Munro, the Nobel-Prize-winning Canadian author who died this week at the age of 92, was a perfect example of this.

Munro's life was never glamorous. Her early years were spent as a housewife, writing short stories between caring for her children. But her publishers kept pressuring her to write novels, which caused her so much anxiety that she suffered from ulcers and writer's block.

Her stories are mostly about people living in the towns and suburbs of Canada. Although the plots are surprising and the structure daring, Munro's subject matter drew on everyday experiences. She describes people's lives as "dull, simple, amazing, unfathomable".¹

Following Munro's death, many writers have praised her work. But they have also praised her modest and dedicated way of life.

For example, Munro did not use social media. She rarely attended literary events, or commented on current affairs. Despite winning many prizes, she was little known outside literary circles, with fame coming late in her career.

According to Sheila Heti, another celebrated Canadian novelist, Munro understood that writing was "the humble craft of putting your opinions and ego aside and letting something be said through you".²

However, others might argue that Munro's career would be impossible today. Writers have to publicise themselves through literary events and social media. They also have to write in different styles and genres - nobody can make a living from writing short stories.

Either way, Alice Munro shows that even the most celebrated writers struggle with self-doubt and professional insecurity. But she also shows that you can write interesting books without living an exciting life. Her stories are about paying close attention to the people that everyone else overlooks. So, the material for great literature can be found anywhere and everywhere.

Could you be a writer?

Yes: Alice Munro showed that the most important thing for a writer to do is to devote themselves to their craft despite self-doubt or failure. Money, fame, and literary parties are all just distractions.

No: A career like Alice Munro's would be impossible today, because writers have to create a public presence if they want anyone to publish their work. The myth of the isolated genius is long gone.

Or... Alice Munro shows that great literature can be written about even the smallest lives. You do not need lots of experience to write well, just the ability to notice what other people seem to miss.