---
title: 'But Before I Get to That'
date: '2007-07-11T02:54:00-04:00'
permalink: /but-before-i-get-to-that/
tags:
    - writing
---

It astonishes me how frequently I say to myself, I’m going to write an article about *x*, and then realize that in order to make the argument about *x* that I really want to make, I must set up a whole series of background issues, such that on or about page 17 I look up and realize that now, finally, I’m about to turn to *x*. I can’t decide whether this means that I’m setting up my arguments badly or that I’m constantly writing the scholarly version of a [novella](http://www.thevalve.org/go/valve/article/novels_novellas_novelettes/).