Listen, Watch, and Read
New pieces arrive on the Content Barge every week — conversations, films, recipes, music and Andy's own programs.
For Homeschoolers
The Educational Fund
All Together Now — how Wisdom Harbour transformed Piedmont City Schools.
The Harbour
Looking Around
“For centuries, harbours have been treasured places of shelter.” Wisdom Harbour has been created as your refuge.
For Teachers
For Homeschoolers
The Educational Fund
The Harbour
Looking Around
Members
Twenty-three docks of films, conversations, music, recipes and Andy’s own programs — new pieces every week.
This carefully maintained dock holds a growing collection of the written word. Here, you’ll find thought provoking articles, unique stories, private letters, personal notes, deep musings, and occasionally, even poetry. Much of the content here has never been shared publicly. For whatever reason, some pieces were tucked away by the writer for years. Now, it’s all available for you.
This piece breaks down the essential steps of editing and revising, guiding you to transform rough drafts into polished, impactful work. Whether you’re working on a school essay, an important email, or a personal project, you’ll find practical advice to refine your words and make them shine. Discover the difference between revising and editing, and see how a fresh perspective can take your writing to the next level.
Picture yourself at your annual office Christmas party. Chances are, you wouldn’t chat with your CEO the same way you’d share a laugh with your closest friend over eggnog, right? Writing works the same way. The way you craft your message should shift depending on who’s on the receiving end. Whether you’re sending out a business report, penning a heartfelt letter to your mom, or putting together a lesson plan, understanding your audience is the secret sauce to getting your point across effectively. But how do you know what works best for each type of reader?
You’ve got what you believe is a great idea for a nonfiction book. Your research is done, creativity is flowing, and you’re as ready as you’ll ever be to start writing. But there’s one little problem—you know you need to put some sort of plan in place before you begin, and you’re no fan of outlining.
“Show, don’t tell” is the golden rule of storytelling. Get it right, and you’ll have readers eagerly coming back for more. Fail to strike the right balance, and your story will feel overly descriptive, slow-paced, and detached.
There’s no way around it…if you want to write a story that pulls in readers, you must include compelling characters. They need to feel believable, mysterious, and relatable. But that’s difficult to pull off—one reason most stories are unpublishable.
I hobbled into my physical therapy appointment this afternoon feeling 90. I realized, as I sat there wondering why on earth I felt so terrible, I hadn’t taken so much as a sip of water all day — nor had I taken the pain pill I loathe. (and take as rarely as possible!)
This morning I started thinking about you. Mainly, I was thinking about what you’re going through right now. Whoever you are. I don’t know you. I don’t know anything about you. But in a way we know each other because you and I aren’t that different.
We were newlyweds, living in a grungy apartment. Each morning, I would wake before her. I would pass my morning hours writing poetry on a yellow legal pad, sipping coffee. Mostly, I’d write the kinds of god-awful things you’d expect newlyweds to write. I’m talking painfully corny stuff. I’d leave these poems on slips of paper scattered throughout our apartment for her to find.
One Valentine’s Day in the 70s, I found myself at an arena parking garage in our tour bus without a Valentine for Bill or any way to get one. The children were little then, so I had their stash of art supplies—construction paper, scissors, glue, markers—in the bus. I decided to make a Valentine and write him my heart.