Tag: writing strategies

  • The Power of the Known

    The Power of the Known

    The Power of the Familiar Two days ago, during my presentation at Duquesne University (see my previous post for more details), I asked a student to recall a passage that had effectively drawn him into a piece of writing. Without hesitation, he identified the opening of Washington Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle.” Whoever has made a…

  • Ignoring the Inner Critic

    Ignoring the Inner Critic

    While the Critic Sleeps I like to write in the morning. The earlier the better. It’s not just because the world is quiet then. My thoughts are as well, mainly because the critical part of my brain–the part skilled at finding fault–is still sleeping. As a result, if I start early enough, I might get…