Sometimes it takes a master of the craft to put you in your place.

While I’ve gushed over the work of Rusch before (including being an avid fan of her blog), to learn her history with writing is downright inspiring.

I’ve read many books on productivity, both in general and related to writing, but Rusch puts them all to shame. She’s been writing for decades under many pen names and has done it all with chronic illness.

It’s her sheer output, coupled with the many awards she’s won, while having days where she could barely function that makes you feel inadequate. With all the health and tools in the world to make the process easy, you really feel shameful for not producing even slightly more.

Reading her story, suggestions and process felt like reading about the pulp fiction writers all over again—people who just sat down and wrote like crazy for years on end… mainly one draft writers on typewriters. Could you imagine if they had computers?

While the sections on writing advice where greatly appreciated, it was also good to hear about her struggle with headaches, scents and food allergies. As someone who works in a high school where the defacto standard seems to be enveloping the halls with body-spray (I have yet to meet a person who finds the scent of cheap body-spray even slightly attractive), her story opened up a new world with my own students.

I know something else to look for in the classroom when a young person is looking sick or uncomfortable.

What I appreciate most about this book is its presentation.

It’s honest.

There’s no clickbait title and promises of lucrative writing careers if you follow the formula, or buy the accompanying course which teaches the “deeper lessons.” For that reason, you know what you’re getting into and it’s wonderfully done.