In Provo Canyon, Utah, Scott Carrier gives a master class in writing to a young Afghan:
“Look down at the river,” I said. “Do you see any places where you could jump from rock to rock and make it across to the other side?”
“No,” he said, “there is too much water.”
“Well, imagine there is a place like that. I want you to think about writing as jumping from rock to rock. Can you swim?”
“Not very well.”
“Good. If you fall, you’ll drown. In order to jump to a rock you must answer my question honestly in your own voice, not the voice of someone else. If you try to answer in someone else’s voice, you’ll fall into the river and drown.”
—Prisoner of Zion, “Najibullah in America”