This article presents contemporary commentary on the previously published articles "Writing for the Reader: A Problem-Solution Approach" and "Motivating Learners at South Korean Universities." Having been out of the field of English as a foreign language for several years, the author was surprised and pleased when he was asked to write some reflections about an article he coauthored with Dee Parker in 1997. As he read the original article, he appreciated how authors had followed their own advice, guiding the reader on a gentle upward slope with gradually increasing information and a format that ensured that the reader was never lost because the signposts and familiar structure set expectations that were met later in the text. He found that the original article stands the test of time and can still be used to help budding authors make decisions before and during the writing process. He discovered that being a careful reader is a prerequisite for being a successful writer.