Desk Notes by Charles Schifano

Desk Notes by Charles Schifano

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The Problem With Contemporary Writing
To care about the state and quality of writing today is to scream into a void while knowing that the void does nothing but laugh.
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Charles Schifano
16
First Drafts
Wine is best for first drafts and coffee is best for second drafts.
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Charles Schifano
6
Making Judgements
The line I don’t judge is one of the most facile and preposterous and fundamentally dishonest lines in contemporary life.
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Charles Schifano
5
Burn After Not Reading
If I happen to get hit by a crosstown bus, I would like to ask a favor.
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Charles Schifano
11
How to Practice Writing
There are good methods to exercise your writing abilities.
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Charles Schifano
2
Maximization
The best method for pursuing luxury and success is through austerity.
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Charles Schifano
12
Some Notes on Self-Sabotage
Self-sabotage is the most efficient type of sabotage.
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Charles Schifano
10
Speaking with an Accent
You’re either from right here, or you’re from over there, and we’ll know the answer once you speak.
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Charles Schifano
2
A Time to Write
You end up looking backward to describe what’s on the horizon.
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Charles Schifano
2
Listen, Memory
A remarkable coincidence that feels suspicious.
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Charles Schifano
23
Pretending to Listen
Conversation is the art of pretending to listen while waiting to speak.
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Charles Schifano
2
Writing Gaps
Language is a matter of choosing what to select and what to forget.
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Charles Schifano
3
© 2025 Charles Schifano
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