In 1899, novelist Kate Chopin's Louisiana character Edna Pontellier created a furor of criticism for pursuing her own passions and then ending her life. Chopin published a retraction of sorts: "I ...

This is a subscriber-exclusive edition of I Have Notes, a newsletter in which I share essays, conversations, advice, and notes on writing. Last year, when asked how my book was going, I would often ...

Writing is hard, but don’t overlook the difficulty — and the importance — of editing your own work before letting others see it. Here’s how. By Harry Guinness The secret to good writing is good ...