. In his essay “Why I Write”, George Orwell (June 25, 1903–January 21, 1950) revealed “desire to share an experience which one feels is valuable and ought not to be missed” as one of the four great motives why we put pen to paper. Indeed, showing your first draft and seeking community feedback can greatly … Read more
Rarely are we invited as intimately into the creation of spellbinding art as we are through Van Gogh’s Letters. It’s because of their accessibility that Vincent van Gogh (March 30, 1853–July 29, 1890), among all the fathers of modern art, has become the most universally loved. That his range of ideas is not seen as … Read more
The beloved “Dharma Bum” and a gentle soul who, at times, was “as nutty as a fruitcake and happier,” Jack Kerouac (March 12, 1922–October 21, 1969), is one of my all-time favorite writers. I previously wrote about his fascination with Buddhism and dream escapades, and today, I would like to revisit his timeless advice on … Read more
. What is a good prose style? When I think about this question, I’m reminded of George Orwell, who famously named aesthetic enthusiasm as one of the “four great motives” for writing. For him, it was the “perception of beauty in … words and their arrangement” and the “pleasure in the impact of one sound … Read more