The adjuration to be "normal" seems shockingly repellent to me; I see neither hope nor comfort in sinking to that low level. I think it is ignorance that makes people think of abnormality only with horror and allows them to remain undismayed at the proximity of "normal" to average and mediocre. For surely anyone who achieves anything is, a priori, abnormal.

I'm not in pursuit of happiness, I'm happiness in pursuit; ready to happen everywhere I go.

0 true and heavenly grace, without which our own merits are nothing, and our natural gifts of no account! Neither arts nor riches, beauty nor strength, genius nor eloquence have any value in Your eyes, Lord, unless allied to grace. For the gifts of nature are common to good men and bad alike, but grace or love are Your especial gift to those whom You choose, and those who are sealed with this are counted worthy of life everlasting.

Being able to read well in public and talk about your work in an engaging fashion is part of most writers' job specification.

Writing is an art and a skill that can be developed

The people who say poverty is no excuse for low performance are now using teacher accountability as an excuse for doing nothing about poverty.