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Desk Notes by Charles Schifano
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Dive into the Water
I must have been about seven or eight years old when my swim coach asked me to stay after practice.
Jun 14, 2024
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Charles Schifano
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Elite Mobs
In an earlier time a single critic could sell a novel.
Mar 28, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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Sensations of Childhood
Summertime, when you’re young, lasts forever.
Jun 30, 2023
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Charles Schifano
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Soundless
Nothing makes you doubt the merits of a music education more than a neighbor who takes up the violin.
Feb 23, 2024
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Charles Schifano
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Exclamation!
I don’t remember when I learned about exclamation points.
Mar 14, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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The Problem With Contemporary Writing
Jan 28, 2022
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Charles Schifano
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First Drafts
May 23, 2023
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Charles Schifano
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Making Judgements
Jun 13, 2023
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Charles Schifano
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Burn After Not Reading
Nov 28, 2023
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Charles Schifano
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The Fine Art of Walking Offstage
My favorite type of plagiarism is self-plagiarism, so let me quote an authority figure on my own thoughts.
Sep 19, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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A Shock of Aesthetic Pleasure
To be limited by the practical.
Sep 12, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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How to Look at a Painting, at a Life
I can’t look away and I can't explain what I see.
Aug 31, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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Shifting Gears in Brazil
I found myself surrounded by Brazilians.
Aug 8, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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How Not What
The entire story is foretold in the opening sentence.
Jul 25, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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Word Homicide
There’s a cemetery on my computer.
Jul 11, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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My Favorite Essay
How far could I push a deception?
Jul 4, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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Risky Directions
At one time I was accustomed to giving directions.
Jun 27, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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Disorderly Creativity
For a long time, I resisted a truth about creativity.
Jun 20, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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Character Without Conviction
Fully believing in fictional worlds.
Jun 13, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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Dissociating From Pain
During the past few years I have learned to dissociate from pain.
Jun 6, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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Desk Notes by Charles Schifano
Exploring writing, travel, and literature.
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How Not What
The entire story is foretold in the opening sentence.
Jul 25, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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17
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4
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Word Homicide
There’s a cemetery on my computer.
Jul 11, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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6
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5
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Disorderly Creativity
For a long time, I resisted a truth about creativity.
Jun 20, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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15
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2
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3
Character Without Conviction
Fully believing in fictional worlds.
Jun 13, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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16
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8
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How You've Changed My Writing
I didn't expect the writing to contain the past.
May 23, 2025
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Charles Schifano
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