I am reading Robert Louis Stevenson's Essays in the Art of Writing. It is so boring, but I will do whatever I can to improve my work. The Oates book isn't much better. I should be grateful that any writer is willing to reveal the inner workings of his craft. I wouldn't want to write a book on it.
I have been sending multimedia messages all over the place, and I'm afraid the extra charges on my phone bill will be ghastly.