The Journal

The places that turn out to matter
It is almost never the holiday. On choosing the streets, corners and unremarkable rooms that a relationship actually happened in. Read more...
Choosing the photographs
Twenty-five chosen photographs beat two hundred uploaded ones, every time. How to cut, what to keep, and why the caption matters more than the picture. Read more...
How to write the letter
The hardest part of the whole thing, and the part people put off until last. Six rules that make it easier, none of which involve being a good writer. Read more...
Who this is for, and who it isn't
An honest attempt to talk some people out of buying. It suits five situations very well and two situations badly, and it is cheaper for everyone if you know which you are in. Read more...
What a gift is actually for
Nobody remembers the third-best present they were given. They remember being understood. A short argument about the difference between a present and a gesture. Read more...