Over the years, when a book has spoken to me with particular power, grace, or charm, I have taken to pen and paper and sent word off to the author.
It all started in my 18th year, when I had a strong 1 to be a writer. I believed that becoming an author was 2 a matter of pouring my thoughts onto paper, 3 the masterpiece to a publisher, and waiting for fame and 4 to come.
Then my dream was 5 . After a year of ignominy(耻辱）, I wrote to legendary children's author Lloyd Alexander, begging him for direction. To my 6 , he answered with great kindness and 7 , "8 is always very easy to give--but very 9 to make it specific and meaningful, since we all have to work in our own ways."
And then after I described my 10 yearlong effort at publication, he said, "What I basten(赶紧说）to tell you is that I 11 seven times that long without being published! So, perhaps my advice is:12 ."
I was 13 by the idea that a well-regarded writer would take the time to 14 a bit of guidance to a presumptuous(冒味的 ）teen. After that I continued to 15 writers though I didn't always receive a reply. If Shakespeare were still around, I might write to him.
