Meg Wolitzer

But that's a rom-com, and Shulman's version, full of people navigating messy, difficult situations, is more true to real life.

In my own writing, when my characters face hard decisions, I have to try and stay a writer and not become a parent.

What I mean is that I have to keep myself from bursting in and pushing for the choice I would have made in the same circumstance.

Instead, I have to know who the character is and through that knowledge understand what they would do.

I've had readers write me letters saying that they were annoyed with one of my characters because of certain choices she made.

Though it can be hard to hear that, maybe it just means I was doing my job.

And the next time you reach your next fork in the road, keep our stories in mind.

Maybe you feel required to make a brash, wild decision, like the oak tree from our Le Guin tale at the top of the hour.

Or maybe you take a somewhat more measured approach, as does the narrator from Shulman's story.

Whether your choice signals a wild departure or a way forward that's a bit closer to where you've been, remember that change is a constant, and the best thing we can do is embrace it.

I'm Meg Wolitzer.

Thanks for joining me for Selected Shorts.

Selected Shorts is produced by Jennifer Brennan and Sarah Montague.

Our team includes Matthew Love, Drew Richardson, Mary Shimkin, Vivienne Woodward, and Magdalene Robleski.

The readings are recorded by Miles B. Smith.

Our programs presented at the Getty Center in Los Angeles are recorded by Phil Richards.

Our mix engineer for this episode was Joe Plourd.

Our theme music is David Peterson's That's the Deal, performed by the Deardorff Peterson Group.

Selected Shorts is supported by the Dunn-Gannon Foundation.

This program is also made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.