Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don't try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It's the one and only thing you have to offer.

“...when the public nerve is aroused, the most impressive capacity of man is his…”

“I found the right (Valentine) card to send her. On the cover there were hearts,…”

“Do you think its possible to live without wanting to put your name on your pain…”

“Mr. Shepherd, ye cannot stop a bad thought from coming into your head. But ye n…”