Pane Toscano & Bread Baking: Taking it with a Grain of Salt (Or Not)

Bread is fussy and variable. Some days it needs more liquid, others more flour, some times a longer rise. And the only way to really learn is by doing, trial-and-error. I'd like to tell you I whip out loaves of bread like this every day of the week, no problem whatsoever, but I'd be lying. LY--ING. In last week's chickpea and farro salad post, I only briefly mentioned the bread. The first loaf was ok, except for big hollow tear in the middle. And I had no one to blame for it but myself.