“No Words” - How To Ask for Things Without Falling On Your Dick

The Art of Asking for Kind and Essential Favors

A writing colleague of mine was widowed last month. To his amazement, he’s been getting multiple emails along these lines:

Dear T—,

I heard of your loss last week. No words.

I really need you to do ___________ by Monday.

Really appreciate it,

Ta!

Some nerve, eh? NO WORDS.

As the two of us shared some dark chuckles, I switched topics. “You know, a couple t…