In February 2023, I celebrated my 89th birthday. As I contemplated my long life, I listened to Edith Piaf’s recording of the famous French song “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” (“I Regret Nothing”).
I can’t say the same. I have two regrets, leading me to offer two pieces of advice to aspiring writers: listen to your inner voice and keep your maiden name throughout your lifetime.
What do I mean by “listen to your inner voice”? Thinking back to my earliest years, I know I was a very good student in school, and my favorite homework assignments involved creative writing. As an undergraduate English major in France, I aced the final exam twice — once in English and once in
