This collection of essays includes highlights from ten years of the Washington Post's Writing Life column, each paired with an author biography by Marie Arana, former editor in chief of the Post's Book World section. Writers such as Julia Alvarez, John Banville, Jimmy Carter, Michael Chabon, Anita Desai, Joyce Carol Oates, Jayne Anne Phillips, and Carl Sagan reflect on their experiences—from how they got started, to reflections looking back on a lifetime of writing—and share valuable advice, insightful concerns, and a wide range of creative habits.
