I’ve always loved reading, and I’ve always loved writing. Reading is easier, it takes less effort and can be done almost anywhere. Writing, on the other hand, takes a more focused mind. In later years I have come to realize that I write less and less and I decided to do something about that. One step is having this blog. I don’t necessarily think that I might have something interesting to say, I don’t really have an intended audience besides myself. But by publishing texts online, I put myself in the situation where there actually may be someone else reading it, thus putting some pressure on me to think about what I write and how it can be perceived.
Writing has many purposes. For me personally, when I write, these are a few of the reasons:
- Documentation: I write to preserve my thoughts and ideas for the future. A year from now, when I revisit my notebooks and blog posts, I want to be able to understand what I was thinking.
- Aggregation: Writing is a way to draw from different ideas, in different areas, to produce a coherent line of reasoning.
- Condensation: When I write, I try to be concise. I want to express myself in as many words that are needed, but not more. To do that, you need to carefully look at your sources to determine what is essential content and what you can cut.
There are many other reasons to write, such as persuasion, indoctrination, or fame. But for me, right now, the above list pretty much sums it up right now. Why do you write?
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