Interlude: Writing, Thinking, and Opportunity

I hear a lot of authors say that writing is hard. But I think this view masks the real challenge.

I would argue that writing is not hard because the writing itself is hard. Writing is hard because the thinking needed to write is hard.

But what if we shift our perspective away from viewing writing (or the thinking needed to write) as hard? What if we think about writing as an opportunity?

Writing is an opportunity to refine our thinking.

I think this framing can help us shift our mindset in a more positive direction. We can train our thoughts away from the (potential) dread of hard work to the opportunity for refinement.

I also think that if writing is an opportunity to refine our thinking, then the principles we use to refine our writing can also help us to refine our thinking.

In my Scientific Writing Masterclass, you'll learn principles for refining your writing that can help you refine your thinking.

Today is the last day to enroll in the next session. I'd be thrilled to have you!

Now for this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

📆 Upcoming

Scientific Writing Masterclass – Starts the week of May 29, 2023
Want to take your writing—and thinking—to the next level this summer? Join the Scientific Writing Masterclass. Registration closes today at 6 pm Pacific Time.

👓 Reading

How to Think Better: The Skill You’ve Never Been Taught
"Good writing requires good thinking...Clear writing gives poor thinking nowhere to hide. A lack of understanding, which was previously invisible, becomes suddenly visible. You can’t simply take a few minutes here and there, get the gist of the problem, and expect to have clear writing. It doesn’t work that way."

🖥️ Watching

How to Use Writing to Sharpen Your Thinking
In this 6-minute video, Tim Ferriss offers some great tips on how to use writing to improve your thinking, revise your drafts, and seek advice from others who review your writing. 

🧰 Tools

Tools for better thinking
This website shares a collection of thinking tools and frameworks that can help you to solve problems, make decisions, and understand systems.

💬 Quote

"Many people assume they are bad at writing because it is hard. This is like assuming you are bad at weightlifting because the weight is heavy.

Writing is useful because it is hard. It's the effort that goes into writing a clear sentence that leads to better thinking." – James Clear
 
 

📝 Challenge

Write the phrase "Writing is an opportunity to refine my thinking" on a sticky note and place the note near your computer. Every time you sit down to write, read the note first.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal