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She broke through fear to give students a better life
Our world would be better if we honored those applying their genius to humbly help others and paid less attention to the boastful and self-important ones. So here goes. Gretchen ...
A good coach helps you think outside yourself
Sometimes a coach can offer a single insight that makes all the difference. I discovered this recently on the squash court, and it is also true as a writing coach ...
Now is the time for moral courage
My last piece attracted a lot of attention because it was about physical courage and worthy sacrifice. Now we need moral courage to criticize the government, as legal and social ...
What I learned from a man who was eaten by a bear
What is a good man? That question always makes me think of a story I wrote as a newspaper reporter in Alaska in December 1990. My wife and I had ...
This is not my beautiful life
I’m fascinated by stories of abrupt, drastic life changes. They light up the far corners of what’s possible. That knowledge can be scary or hopeful, depending on how you feel ...
Here’s the path out of editing hell
Bad editing is torment. Office workers know what I am saying. After unclear initial direction, a document goes around and around, everyone making petty and arbitrary changes, and then changes ...
When to make big decisions about your writing
Photo of Philip Roth / Yesterday I completed final revisions on two books, both of them projects I started more than five years ago, in 2019. A feeling of vacancy ...
Why practice outweighs talent
Except from a 1973 essay by Charles Wohlforth I was asked again today how to become a writer—how did I do it? My first piece, a short story, was published ...
Charles Wohlforth has written many of his own books, has ghost-written others, and helps many writers find their own way into print. Learn how to work with Charles.
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