Writing Boots: I Can’t Live With It, and I Can’t Live Without It

This is my 4,493rd post on Writing Boots. Can you believe that?

I started this blog in spring of 2008, around the time I was leaving the freelance employ of Ragan Communications and entering the freelance employ of another publisher, McMurry. Around that time, this is what I looked like. “Little Lord Fauntleroy,” my old pal Steve Crescenzo said at the time.

I’ve posted something here just about every weekday since.

I’ve parlayed this into a paid column.

I’ve parlayed this into an essay collection called An Effort to Understand.

I’ve used this as a chance to sharpen my knives.

I’ve used this to remind myself, on muggy gray Tuesdays between magazine articles and books and other public stunts, that I exist.

I’ve used this to draw crowds by starting fights.

I’ve used this to be a self-righteous prick.

I’ve used this to write gentle poems that you wouldn’t read otherwise.

I’ve used this to make reading my thoughts, your habit.

I’ve used this to get things off my chest.

I’ve used this to settle scores.

I’ve used this to preen.

I’ve used this to figure out what I think.

I’ve used this to force myself to say something, every day.

I’ve used this to make saying something every day easy and natural. (It’s easier to write every day than once a week, a daily columnist and I agree.)

I’ve used this to say whatever the fuck I want.

I’ve used this to keep from complaining that I’m not allowed to say whatever the fuck I want.

I’ve been told lately I ought to consider converting this to Substack.

And I’ve agreed that I ought to consider converting this to Substack, because Substack helps things go viral.

I don’t think I’m going to convert this to Substack, because viral isn’t what I’m looking for. Back in 2009, the marketing guru Seth Godin mentioned Writing Boots in a post and I got 10,000 views in a single day. Wow! But also: Who cares?

I was 39 when I started Writing Boots. I’m 57 now. More and more, I do this for the right reasons. Which means it’s harder to do every day. And which also means I don’t need to do it every day (or to make reading my thoughts, your habit).

So I’m gradually letting myself off the hook, about that.

I don’t know why I’m telling you this. You get what you pay for.

I do know why I’m telling you this. I’m sleepless at 12:32 on Thursday morning and that’s another thing I’ve used this for. And will continue to do, I imagine.

Thanks, as always, for reading.