The writer gives information gives about the characters, the setting, the solutions, And the conflict is introduced. Hope I have helped.
It was a sunny afternoon<u> </u><em><u>in late October</u></em><em> </em>(prep=adv). Muriel and I had decided to check properties for sale in the countryside. We had always enjoyed toying with the idea of<em> </em><em><u>finding</u></em><u> </u><u>(np)</u> the perfect place<u> </u><u><em>to live </em></u><em>(</em>inf=adj). So we got into the car <u><em>to start as soon as possible</em></u><u> </u>(inf=adv). <u><em>After driving</em></u> (part) for hours we reached the spot, a stretch of fields forgotten <u><em>in the middle of nowhere. </em></u>(prep=adj). We had been told about this lonely place by my uncle Bob<em>, </em><u><em>the hermit</em></u><em> </em>(app).<u><em>To be </em></u><em>standing there in the absolute silence </em>(inf=n) of the place was unnerving. <em>We could hear the blades of grass rustling against each other and smell the strong stench of cows grazing nearby.</em> (compound)<em>Never had we been away from the city or felt the isolation of a rural area for this reason we rushed back to the car and drove back to our apartment as fast as we could.</em> (compound-complex).
Strong reasoning. Your welcome
riding my bike down a steep hill
The answer is the first one.
In "Writers often disavow the notion of a 'literary duty'" the author conveys a somewhat condescending attitude, as if they would always follow this and set aside anyone who said otherwise. This attitude says the author is looking down on them, and that the author believes that many authors do not meet their standards.
Another answer I would consider is "...writers ruined by their shrill commitments." However, there is no context or clear tone. The author could be mournful of the lost potential for all we know.