writing is part of a chain. We spin words, for ourselves, a few others, or even the world, out of the past—not just our own, but those of the writers we have read and absorbed.

1) Write. There is no substitute. Write what you most passionately want to write, not blogs, posts, tweets or all the disposable bubblewrap in which modern life is cushioned. But start small: write a good sentence, then a good paragraph, and don’t be dreaming about writing the great American novel or what you’ll wear at the awards ceremony becaus