| No matter what you learn, even trivial tricks like rolling a | | | | to emulate the world's best writers. They were gifted |
| cigarette with one hand, mean you have learned | | | | and experienced, that's why they stand out above the |
| something. The minute you stop learning, however, you | | | | rest. You don't start your piano concert career at |
| begin to grow old. And that happens with much too | | | | Carnegie Hall - that takes years of hard work and |
| many older people - they never to upgrade or update. | | | | plenty of talent. |
| You can teach an old dog new tricks; they just don't | | | | Be honest - check instead of guessing and keep it |
| learn fast, but will learn if you go slowly. And old dogs | | | | simple. That way you learn by avoiding mistakes and |
| need to keep at it to stay fresh and appealing. | | | | pitfalls. Slowly you will find your feet and improve your |
| Whether it be herb gardening, a course in Thai cooking | | | | work. A weekend golfer who swings will be better |
| - it used to be pottery - whatever, it is important to | | | | than a hitter. Hitters lose it later in life, never achieving |
| have an active interest in some project. Learning to | | | | the results they once did, but swingers keep it sweet. |
| write is not without the reach of someone with a | | | | Write like you talk is a good rule of thumb: Tell me a |
| reasonable education and the right attitude. Accept | | | | story. That's all you have to do. Let the grammar sort |
| that you are an amateur - doing it for the love of doing | | | | itself out - that's why we have editors who live for |
| it - and proceed accordingly. Don't stress your writing - | | | | that sort of thing. |
| no matter at what level. Enjoy it positively. | | | | Last word: Please move on from using words like |
| Keep your writing efforts simple. Use words you are | | | | amongst, whilst, amidst - come on they date you |
| comfortable with. Do not write a school essay or try | | | | immediately. |