The 14th c. theologian William of Ockham is known for his statement, “the simplest solution is almost always the best.” This is the familiar thought I’ve come to after writing a bit this morning. If I want to finally finish, I’ve got to apply it. And I’ve long been convinced that the pursuit of writing has profound lessons to teach
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It turns out I have this unconsidered theory that what’s most important is to be comfortable. And it’s especially true with huge challenges like writing. One more cup of coffee, I think. Then maybe I’ll be in the zone…. There’s no coffee mug big enough for me. Or coffee hot enough, tasty enough, fresh enough. And soon, the way
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Dear you, With tons of help and borrowed insight, you’ve been recovering. That’s so good and hopeful. Don’t forget to celebrate! It’s involved relearning compassion for the small things, and it’s been life-changing, as well as a long time coming. Specifically, you now know you started life like so many men, crying. And like too many men, you could die
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No one can tell me when I’m getting overwhelmed. Pretty much anyone can tell when I’m getting overwhelmed. These two facts are in my mind the moment I open my eyes Tuesday morning. They have taken me more time to acknowledge than I would like to admit. And yet if there’s one thing I know, it’s that the things we
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Having worked with many writers over the years, I’ve noticed that no matter what most motives us to write–personal, professional, spiritual, or emotional reasons–all writers have difficulty getting free of concerns about how their work will be received. Some of this is justified and positive, of course. It keeps us from publishing work that isn’t up to our high standards.
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