Excellent, Fiona, and correct.

It began as a writing exercise to respond in three short paragraphs to political/economic/foreign affairs articles in my morning's The New York Times.

I could create something bold, original, and thought-provoking in twenty minutes and read by a few hundred people.

Writing a brilliant 1000-word op-ed of my choice becomes like road building -- material dug, turned, shifted back and forth, consolidated, and smoothed. I get there eventually -- but phew!

Best to you.