Writing on Notes

Rober MacFarlane's writing process

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 06:54:34 -0500

Yesterday, I wrote about the first sentences of The Old Ways: A Journey on Foot by Robert MacFarlance.

Today, I found this

Macfarlane begins each project with what he calls a “portal question” — seemingly simple questions like “Why do we climb mountains?” or “Is a river alive?” These questions, when combined with a child-like wonder and openness, can lead the writer through interesting, complicated, difficult terrain. These questions are the basis for a kind of intellectual exploration.

MacFarlane discusses his process extensively in this interview.

Not today

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 16:53:40 -0500

Tried working on an essay that I’ve been working on for longer than I expected. I could not get into the right mindset and sustain my focus in the way I needed to. Random thoughts about all sorts of other things kept getting in the way. I’m going to trust my unconscious and assume that today just isn’t the day to write this thing.

Are we all writers?

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0500

From On Writing, Content, and Art, by Manu:

This is clearly writing and, therefore, I am a writer. But in that case, we’re probably all writers. We all text and send emails and post online. Are we all writers? What makes a writer a writer? The medium? The length? The meaning? The time spent?

Fun to think about those questions, eh?