I was once told that, if I'd like to write, or write well, it's best not to read any books on writing and just sit down for an hour every day to plow right ahead. Needless to say, I've ignored that advice and read a great number of them; books by writers like John McPhee, Brian Dillon, Vivian Gornick and Annie Dillard, covering a variety of ideas and tools—things to remember, and things to forget. Continue reading →