I see a lot of people say "writing is so important," and I think what they mean is "I feel really smart/good when I write." And I think what they are experiencing is that they've been assembling ideas in their heads for weeks, and only when it's all come together are they ready synthesize that information at a higher level, and they mistake this synthesis for the writing itself (rather than the writing being a symptom OF the synthesis -- if they had tried to write a week prior they would have found it unproductive).
jryb•4h ago
Just one personal anecdote: I definitely find contradictions or gaps in my thinking/knowledge when I write. Finding and resolving those deficiencies is what I point to when I say "writing is thinking".
__rito__•3h ago
This is not true for at least me.
Let's say, I am making something concrete by putting ideas, thoughts, knowledge into paper. While doing it, I am finding gaps and mistakes and finding opportunities to correct them. But it is not limited to 'correction', it also opens newer dimensions and perspectives- ones that previously didn't exist in my conscious mind.
I consider writing as a tool of thinking. Another tool is brainstorming with a group, or any group discussion in general. These amend to your thoughts, make the existing ones more solid, and opens new direction, and unravels connections previously not accessible.
Read this essay by Paul Graham: Putting Ideas into Words [0]. And also refer to his other essays on writing.
There is also a great book by Paul Zissner: Writing to Learn. I suggest this book to people.
Writing, when done while learning works akin to teaching- one of the most crucial steps in so-called Feynman Technique of learning.
zug_zug•5h ago
jryb•4h ago
__rito__•3h ago
Let's say, I am making something concrete by putting ideas, thoughts, knowledge into paper. While doing it, I am finding gaps and mistakes and finding opportunities to correct them. But it is not limited to 'correction', it also opens newer dimensions and perspectives- ones that previously didn't exist in my conscious mind.
I consider writing as a tool of thinking. Another tool is brainstorming with a group, or any group discussion in general. These amend to your thoughts, make the existing ones more solid, and opens new direction, and unravels connections previously not accessible.
Read this essay by Paul Graham: Putting Ideas into Words [0]. And also refer to his other essays on writing.
There is also a great book by Paul Zissner: Writing to Learn. I suggest this book to people.
Writing, when done while learning works akin to teaching- one of the most crucial steps in so-called Feynman Technique of learning.
[0]: https://paulgraham.com/words.html