I read this review of Beg, Borrow, Steal: A Writer’s Life by Michael Greenburg in Sunday’s New York Times Book Review. The book of essays sounds quite interesting, and I was taken with the phrasing of this bit of writing advice:
"Several years ago Greenberg received a commission from The Times Literary Supplement in London to write short essays of less than 1,200 words each; the only other stipulation was that each piece had to spill a drop of blood. As the editor said: “Give it a sense of personal necessity, a sense of urgency. Otherwise, there are no restrictions.”