News from the Muse-eum. My patio in the backyard is almost done. Not perfect, and I will be replacing a few boards that did not turn out quite right, but definitely good enough for government work. I even planted a maple tree in the center so it will eventually shade the entire patio and shade the fountain I hope to install. I have never built anything before so it’s all new to me. And by some miracle I did not get injured when I fell backwards over the grid last month. I only got a goose-egg and a bruised elbow. Learning as I go.

Two weeks ago I sent out a newsletter discussing the bad habits of new writers. Not that there is a right and a wrong to writing like some ethereal Platonic forms, but there is effective and ineffective verbal communication. And what is effective or ineffective depends on not just artistic skill but on one’s time and culture. Two hundred years ago writers filled entire chapters with verbiage because people had lots of time and few forms of entertainment. Today, cat videos are one click away. So, enough verbiage…

Needless obstacles in style are the biggest issue with new writers. Last time I mentioned...