I have many voices in my head. (Most writers do.) Most of them I created, in one form or another, and for the most part I consider them friends. They populate my manuscripts, existing and prospective. Their voices are known and welcome. But there is another voice in my head, and yours, and the head of every person I’ve ever known or spoken to. Some of us hear it more loudly than others, but if you stop and think, you’ll recognize it’s there. I call it the voice I do not listen to, but that’s really a misnomer because sometimes I listen anyway.
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The Importance of Self-Renewal
Japanese koi, or brocaded carp, are beloved around the world for their lovely colors and peaceful disposition. Most ornamental ponds in Japan have a resident koi population, and the most attractive specimens can sell for hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Koi are merely a species of carp, and the lovely colors we see in curated ponds are mostly the result of care and maintenance by attentive human breeders. Writing is much the same. Any human in possession of basic education can read and write. We make words, and tell stories, as a part of our daily lives. Ask any kindergarten child to
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