And every writer learns this; but then he must learnwhen.

Local writers learned about the society primarily through word of mouth.

And every writer learns this; but then he must learn when.

This is the first important lesson that the writer must learn.

Your writer learned that this was where the chiefs bathed.

And how does the writer learn the bad news?

In the process of discussing these, the writer learned much about how to redesign his words.

Do you imagine that the writer learned to make bread?

If writers learn to interact with their writing in these ways, they have learned to write with power.

I take this to mean that the writer should learn how to tell the difference between literary gold and dross.