Writing to Think
Dear Real Academics, I have built much of my career off of the relationship between writing and thinking . The whole foundation of my research is based on the argument regarding the importance of utilizing language -- specifically writing -- to understand scientific concepts. Writing can help us refine our thinking, and even change it. Writing can help us understand the world. Writing can help us understand ourselves. The image of the solitary writer sorting through their thinking is not a myth. This image may be criticized, mainly from the angle of assuring writers they are not alone and that others are writing alongside them, and even with them. There is power to these points, and I greatly value my community of writers and am motivated by being part of writing groups. But here, my point is that individuals -- whether writing alongside or with someone -- are still individuals with thoughts, emotions, feelings, hopes, and dreams unique to them. Writing is a form of di...