[andsoitis]

> but after you've had a thought, you need to see it "in writing" and execute it to evaluate it and see if it was a good thought after all.

I don't know that that is the only way. For instance, when I have thoughts, I often:

- repeat them in my head from various angles, while pacing around the room

- jot down some key words as anchors

- draw a diagram or two; sometimes to visualize relationships, sometimes to map out individual elements of the thought

- etc.

Then, when I start writing, even then I don't start with full sentences. I think about overall organization so might outline and iterate on that a few times so that I can refine. Only then do I start writing full sentences and edit, edit, etc.