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Copyright © 2008 by Ian Sinclair
About this translation
I have read translations of different texts by those who understood Chinese and/or English very well, but understood little about tai chi. I have also seen translations by those whose understanding of Chinese and tai chi were much better than their understanding of English. So I thought some of you might find it amusing to read a translation by someone who had done tai chi for a long time, understood English pretty well, and knew almost no Chinese.
Please do not assume that this translation is the work of a scholar worthy of the original text. The truth is quite the contrary. In some cases, I was deliberately presumptive, simply to spare myself the burden of diligence. If I had any sense, I suppose I should have just ordered the recently recommended book, "The Taijiquan Classics – an annotated translation" by Barbara Davis. I suppose I will do that next, so I can have a translation by an expert who has a thorough understanding of tai chi, English, and Chinese.
Comparing this translation to the work of a professional translator, this should seen in the same light as an elementary disco version of a Bach Fugue. It might not be as sophisticated as the original. But at least I can dance to it.
Translating classic literature presents challenges for the best scholars, partly since all languages change over time. The meanings of words can change drastically in a decade. (I remember when "gay" meant "happy".) The words in the following tai chi classic, originally written in the 18th century, may have had some different meanings than they do today. Add to that the fact that much classic literature was not written with the same structure as the spoken language of the time. The meaning of words may also be changed for poetic effect or to express some esoteric meaning known only to the writers clique.
The fact that the written language might not coincide with the spoken language was no obstacle for me, since I don't speak Chinese. I do speak "tai chi", however. So, hopefully that will make up for my poor skills as a linguist.
– Ian Sinclair
The story goes that the brother of Wu Yuxiang (founder of Wu/Hao style tai chi chuan and also the student of Yang Luchan and Chen Changxing) found a copy of the "Taijiquan Lun" (Tai chi chuan treatise) in the back of a Beijing salt store. For this reason, it is sometimes called the "Salt Shop Manual" or "Salt Shop Classic."
Wu attributed the authorship of this dissertation to Wang Zongyue (王宗岳 Wáng Zōngyuè), a reputed 18th century master whose name is sometimes written "Wang Tsung-yueh." The true authorship is somewhat in question. Some claim that Wu himself wrote the text.
In any case, the "Taijiquan Lun" has been an important piece of work, and mandatory reading for generations of Tai chi chuan students.
Each line is presented first in Chinese, then in pinyin.
I have then attempted to provide a transliteration of the Chinese text, hoping that it may give some insight into the challenges presented by the task.
I have then translated the line into English. Since my understanding of tai chi principles is more thorough than my understanding of the Chinese language, I actually have more confidence in my translation than I do in the transliteration.
Following the translation is an examination of the meaning of each section.
太極拳論 – 王宗岳
Tàijíquán Lùn – Wáng Zōngyuè
Dissertation on Tai Chi Chuan – by Wang Zongyue
Tàijí zhě wújí ér shēng,
[Supreme Pole] [nominaliser] void [right after] [give birth],
Taiji (The primal duality of the universe) is born of non-duality,
yīnyáng zhī mǔ yě;
yin and yang it mother also;
and is seen in the nature of yin and yang.
dòng zhī zé fēn,
move it [conjuction] divide;
(Yin and yang) are seen as differentiated in the dynamic relationships,
jìng zhī zé hé,
still it [conjuction] combine;
yet can be seen as undifferentiated in a non-dynamic frame of reference.
be free of excess or deficieny
(The nature of yin and yang) is reliably constant
suí qū jiù shēn
follow curved [go with] stretch.
and universally applicable. (flowing with chaotic changes and extending to infinity.)
rén gāng wǒ róu wèi zhī zǒu
person firm I soft call it leave.
For example, when my opponent is forceful and I am soft and yielding,
wǒ shùn rén bèi wèi zhī nián;
I follow person [turn away] call it [adhere/stick]
or when I follow and stick to the opponent who retreats,
dòng jí zé jí yīng,
move urgent [conjunction] urgent respond,
responding urgently to sudden movement,
dòng huǎn zé huǎn suí,
move slow [conjunction] slow follow,
following slow movements slowly.
suī biànhuà wànduān,
although change ten thousand extremity
Even if the changes are constant and complex,
ér lǐ wèi yīguàn
yet law consistent
the principle (of applying the theory of yin and yang) remains consistent.
yóuzhe shú ér jiàn wù dǒng jìn,
by familiar and gradual awaken understand [strength/spirit].
By learning to feel the interaction of yin and yang, one gradually comes to understand the meaning of intrinsic energy.
yóu dǒng jìn yóu jiē jí shénmíng;
from understand [strength/spirit] and stage and divine;
From this understand of intrinsic energy comes profound insight;
rán fēi gōnglì zhī jiǔ,
although [non-] achievement and duration,
But without long and consistent practice,
bùnéng huòránguàntōng.
unable open-correct-penetrate-understand thus.
such "sudden enlightenment" is not possible.
xū líng dǐng jìn,
empty mysterious top [strength / spirit]
Energise the spirit in a calm and relaxed manner
qì chén dāntián,
energy sink field of elixer,
while keeping your energy centred in the lower abdomen.
bù piān bù yǐ
not inclined not [leaning against],
Be magnanimous about,
hū yǔn hū xiàn;
sudden disappear sudden appear;
constant changes.
zuǒ zhòng zé xū,
left weight (conjunction) void
Don't resist rebellion
yòu zhòng zé yòu yǎo
right weight (conjunction) right
or struggle against intransigence.
yǎng zhī zé mí shēn
aspire it [conjunction] make more tall
Fixating on the strength of the opponent makes them seem even more superior
fǔ zhī zé mí shēn
bow it [conjunction] make more deep
while observing their weakness can make them seem more inferior.
jìn zhī zé yù cháng,
advance it make more long,
The chaser makes the distance effectively longer,
tuì zhī zé yù cu
withdraw it make get better close
and retreating makes the distance shorter or irrelevant.
yī yǔ bùnéng jiā,
one feather not can add,
A feather cannot be added,
yíng chóng bùnéng luò
fly insect not can land
and a fly cannot land,
rén bùzhī wǒ,
person not know me,
People cannot read me.
wǒ dú zhīrén
me alone assess people
But I can read them.
yīngxióng suǒ xiàng wú dí
hero man that towards without enemy
The hero seeking the condition of having "no enemy"
gài jiē yóucǐ ér jí yě.
build all from this and also.
achieves it in this way.
sī jì pángmén shènduō
Thus technique other gate many much
There are many different martial arts,
suī shì yǒu qū bié,
although configuration have classify separate,
and they appear very different from each other.
gài bùwàihū zhuàng qī ruò,
roughly not be beyond strong bully weak,
Yet most never progress past the level of the powerful conquering the weak
màn ràng kuài ěr!
slow yield fast!
or the fast beating the slow!
yǒulì dǎ wúlì,
have power hit no power
(When) the powerful conquer the weak
shǒumàn ràng shǒukuài,
hand slow yield hand fast,
(or) the slow lose to the fast,
shì jiē xiāntiān zìrán zhī néng,
be all inborn natural it can,
this is merely an expression of natural inborn abilities.
fēi guān xuélì érqiě yǒuwéi.
not implicate scholarship productive either.
It does not demonstrate any useful knowledge or skill.
guānchá sì liǎng bō qiān jīn zhī jù
observe [fifty grams] turn (thousand pieces of gold) it (line of poetry),
The axiom, "4 ounces controls a thousand pounds"
xiǎn fēi lì shèng
obvious non force victory
reminds us that strength is not required for victory.
guān lǎohě néng yù zhòng zhī xíng,
view old person can defence crowd contrast,
And when you see a senior citizen defeat a group of younger attackers,
kuài hé néngwéi?
fast how ability?
it is obviously not due to superior speed.
lì rú píng zhǔn,
Exist like level normal
If you are like a balanced scale
huó sì chēlún;
moving similar chariot wheel.
you can move as easily as if you were on wheels.
偏沈則 隨,
piān chén zé suí
lean sink make follow,
But if you lean or slouch your movement will be unstable,
shuāngchóng ze zhì.
double heavy make stagnant.
and your lazy bracing will restrict your power.
měi jiàn shùnnián chú gōng,
every see several years pure achievement,
You might train sincerely for many years
bùnéng yùn huà zhě,
not can use transform (one who)
and yet not be able to neutralise an attacker's
shuài zì wéi rén zhì,
lead self for person control
control of you,
shuāngchóng zhī bìng wèi wù ěr.
double heavy it fault [did not] awaken ear.
if you do not clue-in to the error of bracing.
yù bì cǐ bìng
desire avoid this disease,
If you wish to transcend this defect,
xūzhī yīnyáng xiāng jì,
must sense yin yang mutual (river crossing)
you must understand the designation that divides yin and yang.
fāng wèi dǒng jìn
method become understand [strength/spirit]
This is the way to understand the intrinsic energies.
dǒng jìn hòu,
understand [strength/spirit] after
When you understand intrinsic energy
yù liàn yù jīng
improve practice improve refined
you must practice refining it.
mòshí chuǎimó,
silent know surmise massage (rub it in)
Become the embodiment of the knowlege
jiàn zhì cóng xīn suǒ yù.
gradually until from heart place desire
until, gradually, you achieve freedom. (you can do as you wish)
běn shì shè jǐ cóngrén,
basis be abandon self from person,
The essential principle is to surrender your self to those whom you would control,
duō wù shè jìn qiú yuǎn,
many miss abandon entreat far,
not make the common mistake of sacrificing yourself in an attempt to control the opponent.
suǒwèi chà zhī it háolí
(that which) call differ it (fine hair)(1/3 mm)
These two things sound almost the same.
miù yǐ qiānlǐ
(grossly erroneous) taking thousand lǐ
But the difference has profound implications. ("A miss is as good as a mile")
xuézhě bùkěbù xiáng biàn yān
study person not can not detailed debate thereupon.
The student must examine this carefully.
shìwéi lùn.
be for discourse.
This concludes the dissertation.
Taiji (The primal duality of the universe) is born of non-duality,
and is seen in the nature of yin and yang.
(Yin and yang) are seen as differentiated in the dynamic relationships,
yet can be seen as undifferentiated in a non-dynamic frame of reference.
The word "Taiji" (a.k.a Tai chi) literally translates and "supreme pole" and illustrates the nature of duality as seen from a daoist perspective.
This section summarises the daoist view of the Universe. The phenomenal universe exists as a function of the relationship between mutually dependent opposites. All things have a relative counterpart without which it could not be defined. "Up" and "down", "left" and "right", "me" and "not me", "existing" and "not existing". This duality is described in terms of two universal principles called "yin" and "yang". Yang is the masculine/active/functional principle, while yin is the feminine/passive/potential principle. Everything is yin or yang relative to something else, and everything contains yin and yang within.
Yin and yang are said to emanate from an undifferentiated source called "wuji". Wuji is akin to a singularity wherein yin and yang cannot be distinguished from each other. This singularity is sometimes compared to "the state before the big bang." This is difficult to express, since time and space are not defined in wuji, so how can there be a before or after.
Wuji also refers to a state of mind or a state of being that people can experience where the designation of the ego is not apparent, and where distinctions between one thing and another are irrelevant. This is not the absence of the self. Rather it is an expansion of the self to include all things.
(The nature of yin and yang) is reliably constant
and universally applicable. (flowing with chaotic changes and extending to infinity.)
For example, when my opponent is forceful and I am soft and yielding,
or when I follow and stick to the opponent who retreats,
responding urgently to sudden movement,
following slow movements slowly.
Even if the changes are constant and complex,
the principle (of applying the theory of yin and yang) remains consistent.
Yin and yang are everywhere in the theory and application of taijiquan, as it is in many martial arts. In order to defeat the opponent without using force, I am required to blend with the opponent. This requires that the pressure between myself and the opponent neither increases nor decreases. This is achieved through the understanding of yin and yang.
By learning to feel the interaction of yin and yang,
one gradually comes to understand the meaning of intrinsic energy.
From this understand of intrinsic energy comes profound insight;
There are 24 main intrinsic energetic qualities or skills that must be embodied in order to understand the deeper strategies of tai chi chuan.
With correct practice, these become inherent qualities, rather than skilful manipulation. The study of these energies allows the students to transcend technique and achieve a deeper understanding of the opponent, themselves, and their relationship between the internal and the external.
But without long and consistent practice,
such "sudden enlightenment" is not possible.
There is the modern parable about the musician or the actor who becomes and overnight success after years of hard work and struggle.
Tai chi students may notice considerable changes at the beginning of their studies. But as they advance, plateaux become longer. One may go for a long period with no noticeable improvement, and then suddenly achieve profound skill and deep understanding.
Energise the spirit in a calm and relaxed manner
while keeping your energy centred in the lower abdomen.
One method of energising the spirit and increasing awareness is to focus on a point at the top of the head and hold that point as if balancing a leaf on it, or as if it were suspended from above by a thread. This must be done in a relaxed manner and with a calm mind. It is important not to force it or even to be overly attached to the concept.
If to much energy is sent to the head it can lead to problems. This upward energy must be clearly "grounded" and allowed to flow downward as well. Hence, the practice of "sinking the breath to the dantian" which refers to the way that a relaxed and properly aligned body will enable the diaphragm to expand downward, causing the belly to expand.
When the qi sinks to the dantian, the waist area relaxes in order to expand and contract with the breath. This results in the tension being released from the core and placed in the thigh muscles where it belongs. With the relaxed core, the centre of gravity is unencumbered and the body can be co-ordinated as an integrated system controlled by the core. Sinking the qi to the dantian also helps to calm the mind and regulate the emotions.
Be magnanimous about,
sudden changes.
In any kind of situation, especially those of conflict, changes are sudden and unpredictable. It is important to never get attached to one thing or another. The mere fact that the opponent jabbed with a left, doesn't mean that they will strike next and not try to grapple. You must be able to instantly let go of what happens in any given moment, like an irregular strobe light that flickers without any pattern. The opponent's intent may appear and disappear instantly. You must be able to do the same without preparation or warning.
Don't resist rebellion
or struggle against intransigence.
If the opponent is attacking, do not stop them. Instead, blend and redirect the energy.
If the opponent is resisting your attempt to move them, quit trying to move them that way. Find the part that wants to move, and let it move in a way that suits you.
"Don't use force, Luke. "
"Resistance is futile."
Fixating on the strength of the opponent makes them seem even more superior,
while understanding their weakness can make them seem more inferior.
Your view of something can create the reality.
If you see an opponent as being bigger and stronger than you, then your mind will reinforce that, and keep you constantly focused on the strengths of your opponent. If, however, you look for the part of the opponent that cannot resist you, you will be able to find it.
The chaser makes the distance effectively longer,
and retreating makes the distance shorter or irrelevant.
If you have ever seen a boxing match where one contestant spent the bulk of the time chasing the other around the ring and couldn't catch him even though it was a restricted space. Then you can see how having the attitude of chasing something will make it seem endlessly far away. To overcome this, the attitude of chasing must be abandoned, and the attitude of sticking must be fostered. Then you can cut the opponent off and trap him in his own pattern.
Similarly, if you try to flee from an attack, you will increase the effectiveness of the attack.
One must not flee from an oncoming train. But if you simply step away from the tracks, you can stand comfortably and wave at the passengers at they go by.
A feather cannot be added.
A fly cannot land.
People cannot read me.
But I can read them.
The hero seeking the condition of having "no enemy"
achieves in this way.
When the body and mind are relaxed, calm, and properly aligned, then I become so sensitive that a feather landing on me will set me in motion. Even a fly trying to land will find that the skin retreats beneath its feet and it will have no solid place on which to alight. With such sensitivity and internal harmony, I will be able to sense the movement, energy, and intent of the opponent. But they will not be able to predict my intent, since I am empty and have not attachment. By being "empty" I am able to harmonise so effectively that I have not enemy. This is the condition sought by the great masters. They were unbeatable because they had no enemy. If anyone were to attack such a hero, the attacker would be defeated by the nature of their own attack.
There are many different martial arts,
and they appear very different from each other.
Yet most seldom progress past the level of the powerful conquering the weak
or the fast beating the slow!
(When) the powerful conquer the weak
(or) the slow lose to the fast,
this is merely an expression of natural inborn abilities.
It does not demonstrate any useful knowledge or skill.
The axiom, "4 ounces controls a thousand pounds"
reminds us that strength is not required for victory.
And when you see a senior citizen defeat a group of younger attackers,
It is obviously not due to superior speed.
Most martial arts try to teach that to depend on strength, speed, and conditioning is not the highest level of skill. But people tend to use what they have. So, the young and strong tend not to develop the subtle skills and sensitivity will be required as they get older. This is why many old masters are also short is stature. They learned very early that brute force was not enough for them. Therefore, they began developing advanced skills when their classmates were still relying on strength.
When the body and mind are properly aligned and relaxed, speed is not necessary. This is because the master has discovered that the fasted way to get somewhere is to already be there. Efficiency is found not in speed and strength. Instead, it is found in understanding space, time, and the shape of the mind.
If you are like a balanced scale
you can move as easily as if you were on wheels.
But, if you lean or slouch, your movement will be unstable
and your lazy bracing will restrict your power.
You might train diligently for many years
and yet you will not be able to neutralise an attacker's control of you
if you do not clue-in to the error of bracing.
When the body is properly aligned, there is no internal resistance to movement. The weight of each part of the body is directed through the body into the ground. There is no lateral pressure and, therefore, no resistance to lateral movement. Movement does not cause the body to tilt or vault. The body flows smoothly from one position to the next as if it were on wheels.
Bracing (often called "being double weighted," happens when different parts of the body lean against each other to take the weight off the muscles.
Go to any high school and you will probably see everyone doing it. (Hips out, spine crooked, knees locked.) For the body to move, it must first release the locked joints and engage the muscles. Even then, the tension that often remains in the muscles after being misaligned can cause aberration.
But bracing is a difficult habit to get away from, and requires training of both mind and body.
I can be double weighted internally. But I can also be double weighted with regards to the opponent if I brace against them or resist their pressure. When this happens, the first person to recognise the mistake and release the pressure will usually be victorious.
If you wish to transcend this defect,
you must understand the designation that divides yin and yang.
This is the way to understand the relationships between intrinsic energies.
Yin and yang alternate constantly. The "place" where they intersect is difficult to discern, even if you have practised doing so. It is like pinpointing the exact moment when inhaling switches to exhaling. It sounds simple. But real understanding of the process takes time.
Part of the problem is that it can be difficult to recognise exactly how to differentiate between yin and yang. Yin contains yang, and yang contains yin. An excess of one leads to the other. When does a strength become a weakness? When does a weakness become a strength? When does the weight shift start and stop? When does the push cease to be a push? The importance of understanding the real meaning of yin and yang is something that many martial arts masters speak about. Yet their students often fail to achieve the highest level of skill simply because they don't entirely understand the nature of yin and yang.
When you understand intrinsic energy
you must practice refining it.
Become the embodiment of the knowlege
until, gradually, you achieve freedom (you can do as you please).
There are several different types of jin (勁 jìn), or intrinsic energies. Beginners mistakenly think of these as mere skills. But with practice, it becomes apparent that they are not things that you do, so much as ways to be. When you can embody these energies, rather than trying to manipulate them, then you achieve a quality that is unassailable, and truly liberating.
The essential principle is to surrender your self to those whom you would control,
not make the common mistake of sacrificing yourself in an attempt to control the opponent.
These two things sound almost the same.
But the difference has profound implications. ("A miss is as good as a mile")
Recent history has shown us how a once proud nation can become so fearful for the survival of it's way of life and high minded principles, that it wilfully sabotages that very way of life and those very principles in order to attack an external enemy. The same history shows how easy it is to achieve a condition of "no enemy" by fostering internal harmony and selflessness.
Great generals throughout history have always understood the importance of understanding the enemy. But pride, ego, and hatred are not tools for understanding.
When famous martial artists like Morihei Uyeshiba speak of Love as being the true meaning of the warrior way, they are not mere spouting some idealistic dogma. They are, instead, advocating a proven means to victory.
Have you ever been so in tune with someone that you developed the same breathing pattern, the same mannerisms, and the same posture? Have you ever been so in harmony with someone that you both simultaneously had the same spontaneous thought? Have you ever thought of a distant friend just before they phoned you?
You will never understand you opponent by hating them. But, if you can surrender your ego, and learn to let go of attachments to desires, fears, and preconceptions, then you might learn to love your enemy. Then you will really be able to kick their butt. (But you won't need to.)
The student must ponder this carefully.
This concludes the dissertation.
Copyright © 2008 by Ian Sinclair


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To participate, parents and teachers of eligible students should download the following:
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Completely Overwhelmed
I am blown away by all the sweet comments from my earlier post. I feel so loved and supported, even though I still have not had an In Real Life hug. Thank you all so much. You have no idea how calm your comments have kept me.
Don't judge, but I carried that used pee stick everywhere with me today. I sat it on my desk where I could see it, but people stopping by my office could not. When I went out on assignment I slipped it into my camera bag. When I went to run errands I had it in my purse. I felt better knowing it was there and any time I had a moment of doubt, I would sneak a peek at the two lovely lines.
I have been trying to keep myself busy and in a positive head space tonight. After work I went to the dreaded Walmart and bought a box of digital HPTs (5 tests for under $20 bucks!) and another box of First Response HPTs. I have resisted taking one tonight as I know it is still really early and I probably need my most potent, first thing in the morning pee.
I took a nice slow four mile walk in the arboretum and watched parents play with their kids and silently talked to Pip, telling him how I promise to take him outside every day. It was good to stretch my legs, albeit a far cry from my usual calorie burning power walk. If Pip stays, I am determined to walk every single day to keep us both healthy.
Once home I did some dishes, made a single serving microwave cake (Holy Cow ladies, this is every hormonal woman's dream! I'll post the recipe tomorrow night, promise!) and had some left over homemade Thai food with brown rice, tofu and lots of veggies. I decided my sweet cats needed a special dinner to mark the good news so I dished up some extra stinky cat food and garnished it with kibble pieces. The meal was much enjoyed and now I have four sacked out kitties with full bellies.
Right now I'm watching back-to-back episodes of Big Bang Theory and reading about how an embryo grows week by week. I have not let myself really look at this stuff before and it is absolutely amazing. I find this all a lot less scary when I look at it from a scientific standpoint and break things down 7 days at a time.
Just two more sleeps till test day.
16 CommentsPost a comment
Bethany #April 24, 2012
I totally understand about carrying the "proof" around 🙂 I still carry a picture on my phone of my first BFP. There is a link that tells you day by day what happens on a 3 day and 5 day transfer. I wasn't sure if you had it or not, so I attached it! Thinking of you and Pip…
Anna #April 25, 2012
Having positive tests after Ivf never seem real! I remember I tested twice a day for the first 20 days! I kept those sticks lined up and I would often be found just staring at them! Now I am often found staring at my beautiful 6 month old twins! Enjoy the calmness because that's coming from your lovely little pip xxx
April 25, 2012
I stopped by on Saturday – saw your "Count" post …. but I didn't get the chance to comment (such is my life) … so – you've had some big news since I was here – WOW!!! I'm hoping that tomorrow brings you a darker line!!!
I know with each of my pregnancies after infertility …. I was crazy – poas every chance I got. Compairing and contrasting………. it's amazing the feeling of knowing you are pregnant – your little tiny secret only you really know about … so fun. You get to decide how to tell people, how to surprise your husband… tell your family… it's amazing…
STICK PIP STICK! Give Momma some GREAT numbers!
Hopping over from ICLW (#86)
April 25, 2012
I would totally carry that stick around with me too! I love it! Come on Pip, show us more that you are there!


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A George Saunders article--but not that one
There's been a lot of buzz online about the New York Times' recent piece on George Saunders in honor of The Tenth of December, his most recent short story collection. And while I read that article a couple weeks ago and enjoyed it, I don't actually remember all that much about it, save for his description of being on a plane that was quite likely to crash. (What can I say? I'm a mildly nervous flyer who lives abroad.)
However, I absolutely adored this other George Saunders piece in Slate, an author-editor book review that's a conversation between Saunders and his longtime editor, Andy Ward. Fellow Stockholm writer Angela Mi Young Hur sent this one my way, and it's definitely worth your time. (No matter who you are, if you read this blog at all, ever, I can guarantee the time-worthiness.)
Saunders is a devotee of the short story form, pointing out that "...at least three of the stories in this book were 'novels' until they came to their senses. That seems to be the definition of 'novel' for me: a story that hasn't yet discovered a way to be brief." We don't have this in common, him and me; I wrote short stories in grad school, because it seemed as though that was What One Did (and they were way easier to discuss and review in workshop), but they couldn't make me like it. Nor could they make me particularly good at it. However, he goes on to talk about knowing when a piece is done, and it rings so very, very true for longer pieces as well:
I have an internal standard for when a story is done that I can't really articulate. Maybe it's just: I know it when I see it. Or: I know it when I don't see it. It has something to do with making the action feel undeniable. There's a feeling I get when (in the rereading) the language passes over from language to action: What was mere typing before starts to feel like something that has actually happened. So that can take a while and it's not just about the language—it's also a structural thing. If the story is tight and all the scenes are necessary, it helps me to understand what the current section is supposed to be doing—and hence I can know when it's right and done.
People say this over and over, but there's just this feeling of rightness that comes when things begin to fall into place of their own accord, and this man, as any of you who've read his stories knows, is pretty good at getting his work to that place. He's also very good at talking about that work. So I'll finish with his words:
Part of the process of moving on and doing more work is to regard all past stories as these small clay rabbits you have made and brought to life, which you loved very much during that process, but which then go running off across the barnyard into the mist, with your blessing. So no favorites. I just feel slightly fond of them all.


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News Release
New Brunswick fire crew mobilization10 July 2017
FREDERICTON (GNB) – A group of New Brunswick firefighters is travelling to British Columbia to help battle forest fires in that province.
The Department of Energy and Resource Development is sending a 22-person crew to the Kamloops region today to help relieve crews that have been dealing with the fires.
"Our forest firefighters are dedicated professionals who are lending their expertise to our neighbours in need," said Energy and Resource Development Minister Rick Doucet. "We are pleased to offer assistance to others when conditions here at home allow us to do so. We wish our crew a safe and successful mission."
New Brunswick is a member of the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre, which helps co-ordinate mutual aid among provinces and often co-ordinates the sharing of resources with the United States and other countries.
Last year, New Brunswick sent 77 firefighters to provide assistance in Alberta and Nova Scotia.10-07-17