The great Writing with Andrew videocast offers advice to anyone (like me!) who struggles to write. Here he has me offer ways that rhetoric—and self-persuasion—can help overcome writer’s block, imposter syndrome, and a lack of inspiration.

The filmmaker Matt Nadel crafts short documentaries of New York State prisoners. His purpose: to get the governor to grant clemency.

Civility isn’t the end of deliberative argument; it’s just the beginning. To get anyone even to listen to you, you have to make your audience believe you’re worth listening to.