In: knowledge. Also: reading, typography.
Why is writing important?
- Writing is the most powerful tool for thinking clearly
- Writing to learn: writing to capture what I’ve learned in my own words, to both strengthen knowledge and identify gaps
- Writing to teach: writing something useful that can be understood by others; this requires a big step forward from simply writing to understand
- Writing to think: taking and shaping an unformed idea through long form writing; constantly refining and improving on it; using the extra available memory to observe thoughts and fix flaws
Quotes about writing
In the words of Niklas Luhmann:
It is impossible to think without writing; at least it is impossible in any sophisticated or networked (anschlußfähig) fashion.
Any talent, wisdom or insight you have that you don’t share becomes pain. – Unknown
Links
- https://explog.in/notes/100days.html
- https://salman.io/blog/why-bother
- https://salman.io/notes/benefits-of-writing-online
- https://salman.io/notes/writing
- https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Writing
- https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Writing
Why writing by hand is better for memory and learning
Engaging the fine motor system to produce letters by hand has positive effects on learning and memory
https://scientificamerican.com/article/why-writing-by-hand-is-better-for-memory-and-learning
12 lessons I’ve learned from 25 newsletters
https://wellnesswisdom.substack.com/p/-wellness-wisdom-vol25-12-lessons
- Write to test the waters for a new career, or hobby
- Writing is the precursor of creating
- Writing for yourself is the #1 way to stay consistent
- If you find yourself dreading an upcoming writing deadline, skip it or change the cadence of your writing to be more infrequent
- Social accountability is one of the biggest life hacks
- Don’t think about what you want to write. Write, in order to think.
- Writing helps you find your tribe and attracts like-minded people into your orbit
- Create more than you consume to still your mind
- Don’t wait until you’re ready to write. You’re never ready.
- Take your writing seriously, but don’t take yourself seriously
How to write a Programming Book, by Charles Scalfani
https://cscalfani.medium.com/how-to-write-a-programming-book-76ab4f8a7071
- How to teach
- Always start where the student is an Expert
- Baby steps
- Simulate Discovery
- Never give a student a solution to a problem they don’t have
- Concrete models over abstract ones
- He wrote: “Functional Programming Made Easier: A Step-by-step Guide”
Stephen King’s 6 practical tips can improve your writing and editing
- Beware of adverbs
- Your job isn’t to find ideas but to recognize them
- Don’t dress up your vocabulary
- Read. A lot!
As Stephen King puts: can I be blunt on this subject? If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.
Stephen King says: If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way around these two things that I’m aware of, no shortcut. - If you write, you’ll offend someone
Your biggest critic is someone you know
Your biggest fan is someone you don’t know - Show up every day
Stephen King says: The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can get better.
11 Ways to write better, by Joshua Fields Millburn
https://theminimalists.com/eleven
Before hitting the send button, review your text: spelling, content, punctuation.
Words are tools. Expand your vocabulary to make your writing more precise.
Do it daily. If you want to improve your writing, write every day.
Punctuation. Is. Pace. To add variety, velocity, and cadence to your writing, play around with different punctuation.
Avoid throat-clearing. Avoid unnecessary intros.
Don’t waste the reader’s time. Our time & attention are two of our most precious resources.
30% composition, 70% editing. For every hour you spend writing, spend three hours editing & shaping your work.
Narrative urgency. Every sentence must serve a purpose.
Avoid too many adverbs. No overuse of adverbs, especially -ly adverbs.
Follow the rules, and then unfollow the rules
Read more about writing. There’s always room for improvement.
Why Write?
By Elisa Gabbert July 6, 2022
https://theparisreview.org/blog/2022/07/06/why-write
(journal) Writing can improve self-awareness and mental health
https://sciencealert.com/here-s-how-writing-can-improve-your-self-awareness-and-mental-health
