Don’t tune out others’ critiques.
For decades, I attended writers conferences and reviewed people’s writing. Only once did I ever find a story without places I thought the writer could improve.
Fortunately, I offered these critiques in a teaching environment. In theory, people had come to learn how to make their writing better.
But human nature also played a part. What they hoped to … Continue reading
Sometimes you need to ask for help.
No matter how much you prepare, you can still get caught. This past Friday, having roughed out an article, I ran a few errands.
I pulled into a space by the barber shop, put the van into park, and felt it roll into a deep pothole. Putting the van into reverse did no good. The … Continue reading
No one’s an expert at everything.
The other day, while working on a home improvement project, I faced a choice: I could risk injury—or I could ask my wife’s help.
I needed to trim several inches from the end of an eight-foot-long board. My table saw was ready. But without … Continue reading