You should write more. Not because I’m telling you to, but because it’s the most powerful thinking tool.
When you write something down, you discover what you really know — and what you don’t. Writing helps you think more clearly by forcing your thoughts in order. It’s like holding up a mirror to your mind; you see your ideas reflected back at you, clear and unambiguous. You’ll surprise yourself at how much you don’t know about a topic as you start writing about it.
You can write about anything. If you’re curious about a subject, write about it. The process will compel you to learn more. This applies to understanding yourself too. That’s why journaling is so popular — it’s a way to make sense of your own thoughts. I don’t journal often, but when I do, it brings clarity to what’s on my mind. I recommend journaling while travelling — there’s something about moving between places that makes it easier.
Writing has other benefits too. The more you write, the faster you become at getting your thoughts down, and the more concise they become. Interestingly, writing helps you have more ideas — not just talk about existing ones. I once read that in a Paul Graham essay, which seemed counterintuitive at first. But as I wrote more, I found it to be true.
It took me longer than I’d like to start writing and publishing. I put too much pressure on myself to write well, which ironically led to not writing at all. It’s a common trap: when fearing imperfection, it’s easy to avoid the task altogether. But you can’t improve writing that doesn’t exist. I got started after setting realistic goals and planning focus times.
I’m still at the beginning of my writing journey, exploring topics that interest me while improving my skills. Most of what I write isn’t publicly available, but occasionally I publish posts on my site. It adds a layer of accountability to keep going, and hopefully I can help people along the way.
So if you’ve been putting off writing, what’s stopping you? Don’t worry about being good right away; that comes with practice. Reading good writers will help you improve, and over time you’ll find your own voice. But you can’t get better without starting. So put words on the page and see where they take you. You might surprise yourself.