The writer Oliver Burkeman types out every draft from scratch - then deletes the original. In this first episode of This Might Work, host Bec Evans puts Burkeman's 'starting afresh' technique to the test, following writer and literacy educator Elizabeth Morphis as she uses it to revise her book - across a transatlantic flight, a sleepless night in Athens and the journey home. Does the discomfort of retyping every word actually make the writing better? It might.
About the guests
Oliver Burkeman is the author of four books and writes The Imperfectionist, a newsletter on productivity, mortality, the power of limits and building a meaningful life in an age of bewilderment He also wrote the foreword to the book that inspired this podcast Written: How To Keep Writing and Build A Habit That Lasts.
Elizabeth Morphis is an associate professor of childhood education and literacy, founder of The Literacy Teacher’s Life. She is currently writing a book for parents about how to make reading a central, joyful part of family life so children become confident and lifelong readers.
Credits
Presenter: Bec Evans
Featuring: Oliver Burkeman and Elizabeth Morphis
Extracts from Matt Bell, Refuse To Be Done and an Elizabeth Day interview with Jilly Cooper’s where she talks about Riders.
Producers: Bec Evans and Chris Smith of Breakthroughs & Blocks
Podcast production: Suzi Dale, Story Publishing
Pilot episode Starting afresh with Oliver Burkeman was released on Substack last November with a bonus episode and link to the full transcript.
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