Recently I was asked to do some revisions on a piece I wrote about my last trip to India. I was sharing  experiences  I had when I was injured in a fall in Delhi. Even though I was in a lot of pain I felt very close to God. It was all clear in my mind, but my ending was vague and needed work. My piece came back 200 words shorter and in my mind some of the best illustrations were axed. Still, the piece had merit and I was determined to find a clear and solid ending. I struggled with words and phrases until two things dawned on me. First I needed to anchor my words to a verse that helped me  understand the feelings I had in relation to the experience.  Second I needed to ask myself the question, “What exactly was I feeling at the time?” I came up with three words that pointed me in the right direction in tightening up the language for my final paragraphs. I felt isolated, frustrated and confused. Once I pinpointed those three words the rest of the revision process went smoothly. I know writers often ask themselves questions to be sure they’re saying exactly what they want to say. As William Zinsser says in On Writing Well, “Writing is hard work. A clear sentence is no accident.” Do you  ask yourself questions when you write?  Questions like, “What am I trying to say? Did I say it? Is it clear? What was I really feeling and seeing?” Try it because it is an effective strategy in the quest for clarity.