Accidental Genius, 2nd Edition

Chapter 7Idea as Product

Writing teachers often tell students that “writing is thinking.” They say this to demystify writing and wipe away students’ anticipatory tension in putting pen to paper. These reassuring teachers believe that if you can think clearly, and use the language of daily speech, you can express yourself competently on the page.

This is valuable advice. The more we think of writing as nothing special, the more we think of it as just another way of expressing ourselves (like speaking to a friend over the phone), the better off we are.

But for those of us trying to use our writing to solve problems, the logical question is, Why write at all? If “writing is thinking,” why not dispense with the writing altogether and get down to ...