Writing with full attention transforms both the page and the writer. This UCLA talk reveals how presence cuts through mental fog—how noticing what you see and feel provides the insights, details, and fresh perspective that make writing come alive.

Where do you begin? Who are you to write this book?
This talk addresses the doubts that paralyze writers and offers a clear-eyed look at today’s publishing paths.

Sunday nights, ping-pong, no politics. For months we kept the rally going. Then seven words—not a killer serve, just seven words—ended the game and the friendship.