A little too much wax in the ear, but having heart in my work

Within the 12-step process to good writing, the one I would have difficulty in the most would be Step 3: Listen. No, it’s not that I don’t clean my ears (THAT’S NASTY), but it’s because I tend to take notes of the details that don’t really matter and let the details that matter most adrift into space, in addition to getting sidetracked easily. I could probably improve this weakness by trying reiterating what they said to see if I understood what they said. If they said no, then I obviously wasn't paying attention to the right details, but if they respond with a “yes” or even “sort of” then I know I’m progressing with my listening skills.

The step I find easiest is Step 11: Care. I learned in a previous English class that “If it’s painful to write, it’s going to be painful to read.” Whether it’s writing a topic that I'm interested in or something that I’m not too fond/lack knowledge of, I have my ways to make it something fun and interesting so that I’ll be glad that I wrote the story instead of being glad that I’m through with it.