JUST DO IT

As a writer and reader, I very much enjoyed Frederick’s Busch’s piece on the craft of writing. It brings to mind what my father, a writer, would say to friends and relatives who would tell him about the great stories they wanted him to write. He would listen quietly and then say, “Write it.” Of course, they rarely tried. Writing does come down, in the final analysis, to sitting down and doing it ! And like any art, only so much can be taught--and probably only the least important part. Heart (or I might use the word soul ) must be inherent.

ROXANE WINKLER

SHERMAN OAKS

The Book Review failed to identify Frederick Busch last week. He is the Fairchild Professor of Literature at Colgate and the author of numerous novels, including “Long Way From Home,” appearing in a few weeks from Ticknor & Fields.