Our Endless and Proper Work: Starting (and Sticking To) Your Writing Practice
Writer and editorial consultant Ron Hogan helps readers develop an ongoing writing practice as an end in and of itself, not a means to publication.

Many people pick up the guitar without eyeing a career as a professional musician, or start painting without caring if they get a gallery. But with writing the assumption seems to be that the goal must be to get published. Why? Why is it acceptable to attain technical proficiency at "Stairway to Heaven" or plein air watercolors as a hobby, while writing is expected to earn its keep? In Our Endless and Proper Work, the second in Belt’s series of books about writing and publishing—along with Belt founder Anne Trubek’s So You Want to Publish a Book? (2020)—Ron Hogan argues writing should be an end in itself for more people. The founder of the literary site Beatrice, and creator of the popular newsletter "Destroy Your Safe and Happy Lives", Hogan offers concrete steps to help writers develop ongoing creative practice in chapters such as “Reclaiming Your Time for Writing,” “Finding Your Groove,” and “Preparing Yourself for the Long Haul.” Sprinkled throughout are adorable illustrations by “Positive Doodles” creator Emm Roy.

This concise, inspirational book encourages all people to take up writing not, as so many other handbooks and resources suggest, in order to make money or become famous, but because it can help you become a happier, more whole and engaged person.

1137375112
Our Endless and Proper Work: Starting (and Sticking To) Your Writing Practice
Writer and editorial consultant Ron Hogan helps readers develop an ongoing writing practice as an end in and of itself, not a means to publication.

Many people pick up the guitar without eyeing a career as a professional musician, or start painting without caring if they get a gallery. But with writing the assumption seems to be that the goal must be to get published. Why? Why is it acceptable to attain technical proficiency at "Stairway to Heaven" or plein air watercolors as a hobby, while writing is expected to earn its keep? In Our Endless and Proper Work, the second in Belt’s series of books about writing and publishing—along with Belt founder Anne Trubek’s So You Want to Publish a Book? (2020)—Ron Hogan argues writing should be an end in itself for more people. The founder of the literary site Beatrice, and creator of the popular newsletter "Destroy Your Safe and Happy Lives", Hogan offers concrete steps to help writers develop ongoing creative practice in chapters such as “Reclaiming Your Time for Writing,” “Finding Your Groove,” and “Preparing Yourself for the Long Haul.” Sprinkled throughout are adorable illustrations by “Positive Doodles” creator Emm Roy.

This concise, inspirational book encourages all people to take up writing not, as so many other handbooks and resources suggest, in order to make money or become famous, but because it can help you become a happier, more whole and engaged person.

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Our Endless and Proper Work: Starting (and Sticking To) Your Writing Practice

Our Endless and Proper Work: Starting (and Sticking To) Your Writing Practice

by Ron Hogan
Our Endless and Proper Work: Starting (and Sticking To) Your Writing Practice

Our Endless and Proper Work: Starting (and Sticking To) Your Writing Practice

by Ron Hogan

Paperback

$16.95 
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Overview

Writer and editorial consultant Ron Hogan helps readers develop an ongoing writing practice as an end in and of itself, not a means to publication.

Many people pick up the guitar without eyeing a career as a professional musician, or start painting without caring if they get a gallery. But with writing the assumption seems to be that the goal must be to get published. Why? Why is it acceptable to attain technical proficiency at "Stairway to Heaven" or plein air watercolors as a hobby, while writing is expected to earn its keep? In Our Endless and Proper Work, the second in Belt’s series of books about writing and publishing—along with Belt founder Anne Trubek’s So You Want to Publish a Book? (2020)—Ron Hogan argues writing should be an end in itself for more people. The founder of the literary site Beatrice, and creator of the popular newsletter "Destroy Your Safe and Happy Lives", Hogan offers concrete steps to help writers develop ongoing creative practice in chapters such as “Reclaiming Your Time for Writing,” “Finding Your Groove,” and “Preparing Yourself for the Long Haul.” Sprinkled throughout are adorable illustrations by “Positive Doodles” creator Emm Roy.

This concise, inspirational book encourages all people to take up writing not, as so many other handbooks and resources suggest, in order to make money or become famous, but because it can help you become a happier, more whole and engaged person.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781948742948
Publisher: Belt Publishing
Publication date: 06/08/2021
Pages: 176
Product dimensions: 5.00(w) x 7.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Ron Hogan has been an industry analyst for a media website, a digital marketing director for a publishing house, a freelance book reviewer, and an acquiring editor for a startup book publisher. He is the founder of the literary site Beatrice, and creator of a popular newsletter about developing your writing practice, "Destroy Your Safe and Happy Lives."

Table of Contents

Introduction 9

Chapter 1 What We Garry in Our Hearts 13

Chapter 2 An Adventure into an Unknown World 25

Chapter 3 Our Endless and Proper Work 37

Chapter 4 Reclaiming Your Time for Writing 49

Chapter 5 Finding Your Groove 61

Chapter 6 Your Voice Is Valuable 77

Chapter 7 Pacing Yourself for the Long Haul 97

Chapter 8 Destroy Your Safe and Happy Lives 105

Acknowledgments 121

Resources (An Incomplete Reckoning) 122

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“The most thoughtful, engaging, encouraging book I’ve ever read about how hard it is to be a writer and why you should do it anyway.”—New York Times bestselling author Sarah Knight

"In this invigorating little book, Ron Hogan offers practical tips for a successful writing practice alongside what is ultimately a philosophy of how to make a mindful and joyful adventure of one's life. I was recharged by each page, and I know I will return to this wisdom when I'm in my inevitable next writing rut." —Raechel Anne Jolie, author of Rust Belt Femme

"A lot of writing advice just piles more expectations onto an already fraught process. In Our Endless and Proper Work, Ron Hogan helped me clear out the mental clutter around my writing and get back to basics. An accessible book that packs an impressive amount of wisdom and pragmatic advice into each chapter." —Mason Currey, author of Daily Rituals: How Artists Work

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