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On Writing in Public
Writing has always been something I wanted to get better at, but lacking the discipline in putting in deliberate practice. Part of this is because I find writing extremely discomforting. But occasionally, I’ll come across a quote, an essay, or even a tweet that sparks a bit of inspiration, and the thought constantly lingers the back of my mind.
When I was trying to teach myself to code, I came across this fantastic course called Learning How To Learn. It’s a free 4-week evidence-based course that describes how the brain approaches learning in a fun and practical way. One concept that stuck with me for years afterwards was the illusion of competence. The feeling of knowing something, but the inability to express it.
This arises in situations where I’d read something of interest and make a mental note for myself. But when it comes time to explain it to another person, I might not be able to articulate it to the standard I’d like. Arthur Schopenhauer has a similar quote:
“When we read, another person thinks for us: we merely repeat [their] mental process ... so in reading; the greater part of the work of thought is already done for us”
If writing is a reflection of our thinking, trying to write well can hopefully dispel that illusion.