Writing

Writing doesn't just communicate ideas; it generates them.

Ultimately the product that any writer has to sell is not the subject being written about, but who he or she is.

I often find myself reading with interest about a topic I never thought would interest me... What holds me is the enthusiasm of the writer for his field.

How was he drawn into it? What emotional baggage did he bring along? How did it

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one of the hardest habits i've had to un-learn as a writer is the desire to head off any counterargument i can see coming -- it's hard for me to write something knowing it will be misunderstood by some people, but that preventing it will water down the writing

“Advice? I don’t have advice. Stop aspiring and start writing. If you’re writing, you’re a writer. Write like you’re a goddamn death row inmate and the governor is out of the country and there’s no chance for a pardon. Write like you’re clinging to the edge of a cliff, white knuckles, on your last breath, and you’ve got just one last thing to say,... See more

My writing is a beacon for new connections, ideas, and opportunities. Almost all my closest friends are people I’ve met on the internet. Reading somebody else’s writing is a great gauge of a person’s mind. It reveals how they think, what inspires them, and what they value.

As for how to write well, here's the short version: Write a bad version 1 as fast as you can; rewrite it over and over; cut out everything unnecessary; write in a conversational tone; develop a nose for bad writing, so you can see and fix it in yours; imitate writers you like; if you can't get started, tell someone what you plan to write about,... See more

As a writer, your goal isn’t to become an expert, but rather to report on or write to them. Hence, your knowledge base is better built around citation instead of internalization. You don’t need to memorize; you need to link.