8/22/07 Is there anything in his last few columns that you can learn from in your own career as a professional writer?

After reading only his obituary and his last column, I have gained a deep respect for Mr. Donald M. Murray. I'm sure there are a countless number of things I could learn from his writings. However, the one thing I take away from today's reading is the amazing heart and soul he put into his writings. He wore his heart on his sleeve when it came to writing. He wrote about real life situations that he went through, and the feelings he experienced throughout those situations. The two experiences he wrote about in his last column were very sad, unfortunate ones, that most people wouldn't want to discuss, let alone write a column about, knowing that thousands would read it. Murray wanted to share his feelings with the world, in order to express the learnings he gained throughout his unfortunate experiences. His readings were enjoyable because they were real. His love for writing is extremely apparent, but his talent for writing proved to be even more apparent. The one thing I take away from Mr. Murray's writings is the method of writing meant to touch the hearts of everyday people.