Parent – So. Did you write your essay?
Child – Yeah, but it’s not very good.
Parent – How many drafts have you written?
Child – What do you mean?
Parent – How many versions? How many times have you revised it?
Child – I just wrote it.
Parent – Well, if you think it isn’t very good, then why don’t you revise it?
Child – I never do that.
Parent – Why? I revise things all the time.
Child – That’s a lot of extra work.
Parent – Does Mom just whip off a watercolor painting, in one sitting?
Child – No. She’s always adding something.
Parent – Do you print a photograph as taken?
Child – No, I’m always cropping or taking out distracting stuff.
Parent – So, why is writing any different?
Child – Because I don’t like writing.
Parent – Why?
Child – Because I’m not very good at it.
Parent – How can you get better if you don’t practice? You practice hard at sports.
Child – Yeah, but sports are fun.
Parent – Striking out isn’t fun. Missing a penalty shot isn’t fun.
Child – What’s your point?
Parent – Well, if you miss a shot or strike out, you know what you need to practice more.
Child – And?
Parent – And then playing soccer and baseball are even more enjoyable.
Child – I think you’re doing another one of your Jedi mind tricks with me.
Parent – Is it working?
Child – You are saying, “Practice makes perfect”.
Parent – Ah, I prefer, “practice makes things easier”.
Child – No. It is easier to just turn in my essay the way I wrote it the first time.
Parent – You can be a very good writer, you know.
Child – How do you know?
Parent – Because you practice arguing all the time.
