As a writer, you have control: You can play around with your own thoughts and when you find those insufficient, draw upon others': their wisdom, their humor, their failings.

If you have an ability, you want to exercise it, not anesthetize it.

Essayists write at a length that enables them, within a year, to explore a number of topics, whereas in a book, they'll likely only get to address one.

Answering ads rarely works for career changers because you have no experience in the job for which you're applying.

Being a good writer may result in your being nicer to more people, having a bigger positive impact.

Some parents let kids "learn on their own skin" and many of those kids end up, as adults, languishing on their parents' sofas.

Only someone who already knows and likes you is likely to give you a good job with modest relevant experience.