Lessons in Writing and Life from My Grandfather, E.L. Doctorow ‹ Literary Hub

I presented a copy of "Gold Dust"-illustrated in colored pencil, its pages tied together with string-to my grandfather, E.L. Doctorow, who I called Papa. By this time, Papa had written six acclaimed and bestselling novels, among them Ragtime, The Book of Daniel, and World's Fair, as well as two story collections and a play, and had won the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award twice.

He read the story while I sat on the carpet next to his chair. "This is pretty good," he said, sounding surprised. He peered at me through his glasses with slightly more interest than usual. Then he dispensed some editorial feedback. "You introduce the thief who stole the horse at the end. If you put him in the early pages and show him hanging around the barn, the reveal will be more effective."

Perhaps most seven-year-olds wouldn't have wanted a grandparent to instruct them how to tell a better story, but I was thrilled that he'd taken me seriously.