The Word Mine: Navigating the Craft of Footnoting

Philosophics — Philosophical and Political Ramblings · Mar 9, 2026 · 4m

In this reflection on the creative process, the language philosopher Bry Willis describes the laborious final stages of completing a nonfiction manuscript. To ensure the narrative flow and pacing are correct, they utilise AI-generated voices to listen to their work, revealing any lingering errors. A significant portion of this late-stage effort involves documenting references, a task intentionally delayed to avoid polishing content that might be deleted. The writer acknowledges that while citations can sometimes feel like a pretentious display of authority, they serve as essential…