We all know the first draft is only a starting point. Rewriting isn’t just inevitable, it’s essential. (That said, if the first draft is too flimsy, it’ll collapse under the weight of revisions, and all that’ll be left is a shapeless heap of bits and pieces. And no rewrite will ever save it.) Among the tools of rewriting: the scissors. We cut what sticks out, what weighs things down, what repeats or doesn’t belong ("kill your darlings"). We make space so the story can b

In fashion, the little black dress is a timeless classic, and a much trickier style exercise than it looks. When it’s done right, it feels simple but never simplistic. It holds together through subtle precision: the cut, the fabric, the finishing touches. Nothing sticks out. Everything falls perfectly into place. It feels obvious, unique, effortless, as if it had always existed. But for that to happen, every element must be in perfect balance. If one thing is even slightly of