In 2006 Ms. Lockwood, an English teacher at Xavier High School in New York City, assigned her freshman English class to write persuasive letters to their favorite authors, inviting them to visit the school and asking for advice. Five students chose to reach out to Kurt Vonnegut, who was the only author to respond. He declined to accept the invitation to visit, explaining that he no longer makes public appearances, because he now looks “like an iguana.”

But did take the request very seriously. With his characteristic mix of wit and wisdom, in a short and to-the-point letter he offers the class a moving plea to practice art, any art. "Not to get money and fame," he explained, "but to experience becoming, to find out what’s inside you, to make your soul grow."

In 2018 the producers of Letters Live, the event series in which actors and other performers bring letters to life, invited James Earl Jones to read Vonnegut's advice aloud before a live audience. Art is a good way to start a conversation between yourself and the world.

‍VIDEO: James Earl Jones reads Kurt Vonnegut's inspirational letter to a group of students