I'm about to go up to Lake Arrowhead to give a weekend writing retreat and I just found two quotes to open the retreat with. Both express how I feel about writing, how we're always beginners when we face the blank page. 

“We work in the dark – we do what we can – we give what we have. Our doubt is our passion and our passion is our task.” – Henry James

“You begin always knowing nothing. You remain forever an amateur, a first timer.” – Jeffrey Eugenides

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About future classes and retreats:  My next class at UCLA will be on the personal essay – the first two Saturdays in March, and then an advanced non-fiction class in the spring.  I give private retreats in Lake Arrowhead once or twice a year; if you're interested please contact me and I'll put you on the early notice list. (B.Abercrombie@verizon.net)