About this series: I revisited my journals from my first year as a freelance writer and found they told a story of their own. In this series I get the rare opportunity to give myself and other writers career advice with nearly 50 years of hindsight. Enjoy!

A short thought from my journal of 44 years ago on the shortest day of the year:

Tonight I also viewed … an episode of “The Duchess of Duke Street.” The latter was masterfully crafted, and contained a character whose paintings “have the sort of talent young ladies display for their governesses and then abandon.” I often wonder whether I, like he, will never be able to create good art.

Journal
21 December 1978