Anything worth doing is worth half-assing
I've got a writing book problem. Every time I have a book writing problem, I pick up a writing book, and since writing is hard I've read dozens of writing books in the last decade.
Hi friends.
This TedTalk about cleaning made me cry this week. But it also reminded me that getting started is more important than getting it perfect. And that anything worth doing is worth half-assing.
In that spirit: Welcome to Writing About Writing About Writing!
The four of you subscribed so far (thank you all) already know this, but for the new people:
Hi. I'm Emily.
I've got a writing book problem. Every time I have a book writing problem, I pick up a writing book, and since writing is hard I've read dozens of writing books in the last decade. Some of them were good. Some were really good. And a good number should have been biographies instead.
This blog started with "The List". After a party one day Lancelot asked me “Just how many writing books have you read, anyway?” We ended up filling three journal pages that night. I've added many more pages since. “You should do something with that,” Lance said. I protested it would take up too much time. Distract me from my writing. Besides, what value was there in writing about writing about writing?
But the idea wouldn't die. What if there was a place where you could search for a writing book by topic? Or by the author’s tone. Or find all the writing tools in one place? This is my attempt to do that.
If that seems like a big job, well it is. So is writing a book and I'm doing that anyway. The hardest part is getting started.
Here's the roadmap:
- At least one writing book review a month, at the moment scheduled for the Second Tuesday.
- At least one writing Tool a month more on these later. At the moment I've got them scheduled for the fourth Tuesday.
- Blog posts when I've got something to say. Maybe once a month?
That feels like a lot. I'm also revising a book after all. Thanks for coming on this journey with me.
If you've got a comment you can leave me a message on bluesky. I’ll be cross posting each post there and possibly other places as I get my feet under me. If you're new here and would like to come along on this crazy ride with me, you can subscribe. There's no fee now for anything and there won't ever be for reviews or tools.
Alright. That's it. I'm pressing send.
