'I get annoyed when a self-indulgent writer just shows off what he knows but doesn’t really tell a story.' Robert Ludlum, born this day.

'When I finish a first draft, it's always just as much of a mess as it's always been. I still make the same mistakes every time.' Michael Chabon, born this day.

We've all heard it: 'show, don't tell.' But we must embrace it. I'm judging a writing contest and see a common flaw: A story SAYS a teacher inspires students (and even quotes students!) but doesn't SHOW her doing anything with the students. Sigh. So many missed opportunities.

'The love of books is among the choicest gifts of the gods.' Arthur Conan Doyle, born this day.

'People are hungry for stories. It’s part of our very being. Storytelling is a form of history, of immortality too. It goes from one generation to another.'
Studs Terkel, born this day.

At a Dodgers game recently, I saw a father tenderly shepherd his clearly disabled son to their seats. It made me recall this Column One by Rick Wilber. A meditation on fatherhood, love and, yes, baseball, it's a beautiful read worth your time. Rick Wilber
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'Talent is only the starting point.' Irving Berlin, born this day.

“Being peaceful is not the same as being helpless, or harmless.” So says the guy James Queally describes as 'something of a leftist firearms whisperer' and a 'firearms sensei.' A compelling portrait in Column One with excellent Francine Orr photos. latimes.com/california/sto…

The inverted pyramid is a glorious thing, but sometimes you just need to let a tale unfold--and not give away the ending. Noah Goldberg demonstrates with this Column One about real estate, culture and brothers at odds. latimes.com/california/sto…

''It works for my lifestyle,' he said. 'It has thick walls, [and] good insulation for the weather. I’d rather live for free in my ambulance than pay for a house I can’t afford. That’s what it actually means to be stuck.''

Jack Flemming Los Angeles Times #longreads

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So proud and in awe of my Los Angeles Times colleagues. latimes.com/entertainment-…

'If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story.' Orson Welles, born this day.

With #KentuckyDerby150 upon us, it's time to revisit Kurtis Lee's beautiful Los Angeles Times Column One about African Cemetery No. 2, where you'll find some of the Black jockeys and trainers who helped create the derby. latimes.com/nation/la-na-c…

So great to see today's Los Angeles Times print edition showcase Xavier Martinez's Column One on his grandfather's time as a farmworker. A moving, inspiring read. Grab the paper or read it online: latimes.com/world-nation/s…

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As I said after the death of the wonderful Bob Pool, it's an honor for a writer to become an adjective: 'That's a Bob Pool story.' But if you're an editor you don't want to become a verb: 'He Billed my story.' 'My story got Bobbed.' Probably means you're rewriting, not editing.

'Every writer I know has trouble writing.' Joseph Heller, born this day. Oddly, that's rather comforting.

'It is no less difficult to write a sentence in a recipe than sentences in 'Moby Dick.' So you might as well write 'Moby Dick.'' Annie Dillard, born this day.

Forget Pulitzers. A true honor for a reporter is when your style is so special you become an adjective, as in 'that's a Bob Pool story.' We said that for years at Los Angeles Times about stories that needed a creative eye and a big heart. Bob had both. latimes.com/obituaries/sto…

'I would advise anyone who aspires to a writing career, that before developing his talent he would be wise to develop a thick hide.' Harper Lee, born this day. Ain't that the truth.

'Revision is one of the exquisite pleasures of writing.' Bernard Malamud, born this day. I wish I'd realized this earlier in my career. Revising something it doesn't mean you're a bad writer. It means you're a writer. Tinkering is part of the process so we might as well enjoy it.