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Having an artistic major isn’t setting yourself up for failure. Trust me, not every soul is meant to be captured in an office for nine hours a day.

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Choosing to follow the creative path is not for the weak of heart. People who prefer a linear life should steer clear of making a living through words.

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Writing is the ultimate ‘deep work’ activity — to become a better writer, you need to practice your skills in a state of distraction-free concentration.

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Because it’s hard to sit there and write a book. Really really hard. Someone should write a book how hard it is.

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Three years ago, in a creative writing class, I was given a writing assignment that has since stayed with me: Go home and write a memoir in 6 words; no more, no less.

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I had essentially beaten every one of these tweenagers with an aching heart. I had won the prize. I had won Jonathan Taylor Thomas.

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Then there is no guarantee that you will not come to read a poem that reminds you of us.

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“We don’t hate our country. But we’ve never seen anything outside of it.”