diff --git a/writing/latex_setup.md b/writing/latex_setup.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fe7cd42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/writing/latex_setup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+---
+title: "LaTeX Setup the Hard Way"
+tags: [ "writing" ]
+---
+
+# Warm Up
+
+1. Deep breath.
+1. Cup of tea.
+1. Remove the old LaTeX junk you've installed.  Search for 'texlive' or 'latex' in your package manager's installed files.
+1. Find `tlmgr` in your package manager.
+
+# `tlmgr`
+
+The LaTeX Package manager is known as `tlmgr`, and often resides in `/opt/texlive/${YEAR}/bin/x86_64-linux/tlmgr`.
+Double-check the location:
+
+```sh
+ls -l /opt/texlive/${YEAR}/bin/x86_64-linux/tlmgr
+ls /opt/texlive/${YEAR}/texmf-dist/scripts/texlive/tlmgr.pl 
+```
+
+Double-check the year.
+It should *not* match the real year, it should match the `texlive`.
+
+## Problems along the Path
+
+You can't use `tlmgr` unless it's in the `$PATH`.
+
+Check if it *is* in the `$PATH` then if it *should* be in the path:
+
+```sh
+echo $PATH
+grep texlive -r /etc/profile*
+```
+
+If `tlmgr` is where it should be, but not in the path, you can add it temporarily:
+
+
+```sh
+export PATH=${PATH}:/opt/texlive/${YEAR}/bin/x86_64-linux
+```
+
+...or just reboot.
+
+## Usage
+
+Search packages:
+
+
+```sh
+tlmgr search --global epstopdf
+```
+
+Can't find what you need?
+Search for a specific file instead:
+
+```sh
+tlmgr search --global --file epstopdf-base.sty
+sudo tlmgr install epstopdf-pkg
+```
+
+## Recommended Packages
+
+
+```
+latexmk
+luatex
+titletoc
+titlesec
+multicol
+microtype
+graphicx
+fontspec
+makeindex
+imakeidx
+```
+