It Kills Writers & Woodworkers

I think Jeff Skiver was my first failure as an editor.

Back when I had a public email address and I was editor at Popular Woodworking Magazine, Jeff would send me crazy Kierkegaardian screeds about woodworking, his dogs and taco meat that would leave me crying.

The tears were for two reasons: 1) Jeff is naturally funny. Everything he does is funny. Even the way he drives is funny. 2) And he was a better writer than me.

So I signed him on to write for the magazine. He jumped at the chance and wrote a few brilliant and thoughtful pieces. At the time I thought: Jeff is the next Woodworking Jesus. I cannot wait to read his first book when he writes it.

But then something happened. Jeff stopped writing. I don’t know why he stopped – I never asked. But he disappeared off the map. You can read some of his stuff at his old blog, Skiving Off. But it will give you only a taste of his genius.

Since then, I’ve worked with many writers and woodworkers who plod this now-familiar path.

1) They do somethin…