[Dilettante_]

I've too often made the experience of having something that feels significant and whole in my head, and in the process of trying to articulate it to another person, it becomes almost completely lost. What comes out is a two-dimensional, crippled shadow of the original idea, and it (this is the worst part) cuts off my connection to the complex form.

[anthonypasq]

This is why writing is important. it gives you the time to actually thinking about the best words to represent what is in your head. you may still fail, but it will usually be better than whatever comes dribbling out of your mouth.

unfortunately, if knowledge isnt written down in some form, (code, english etc) then it doesnt really exist in a civilization sense, so you need to get good at writing.

see all Paul Grahams essays on writing.

[Dilettante_]

>Paul Grahams essays on writing

Wow, thanks for the recommendation. I sat down and read a handful over the past couple of hours and really got a lot out of them.

[ericschn]

I fully agree. I think of it as exercising the muscle in the mind that acts as the "translation layer" between abstract concepts and human language. It is tough to convey complex ideas in word, but you can grow that skill with practice.