On writing

I’ve decided that I want to write well.

I’ve never really thought of myself as a writer. I read a lot, I can think clearly, but communicating my thoughts crisply in writing is a challenge – perhaps because I’ve never seriously tried. Talking is easier; I get real-time feedback from my audience.

And yet, I see time and again – someone who can write well is able to command influence. Writing seems to help clarify thoughts and explore biases. At work, I’ve found this to be a hidden benefit of having a distributed team. Writing forces me to do more structured research, which in turn helps me revisit my assumptions.

All that said, the upshot is that I must get better at writing. So, here’s to fewer unfinished drafts.