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
No one’s an expert at everything.
This past Saturday, 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 board. My table saw was ready. But without a third hand, I couldn’t support the board to make the cut.
I could have tried to jury-rig some kind of … Continue reading
I miss what that word used to mean.
I paid the guy at the garage sale a dollar for a picture frame.
“Awesome,” he said.
I bit my tongue. Yes, the 8×10 picture frame was still shrink-wrapped. But the most generous adjective I’d give it was nice.
I’m old enough to remember when awesome was rare. Few things truly inspire awe. Goosebumps … Continue reading