Can you think better by writing? Yes, and I am proving it to myself as I write this article. The process of putting words on paper, or in a notepad file in a computer, clarifies one's thinking, and even stimulates new ideas.
You have probably had the experience of trying to "get clear" on something. Sometimes we can't quite make sense of a topic, an experience or a thought. You have also probably had the experience of explaining your problem to someone, just to have it all become clear as you explain it. This is the power of putting your thinking out there in words.
Better Thinking On Paper
The same thing happens when you write an idea down. Often, the more you force yourself to write about a half-understood idea, the more you start to understand the idea in the process. You are effectively "thinking on paper," which has some advantages. Your thoughts are not likely to be lost, for example, and they are forced into logical sentences.
As you start putting thoughts into words, you are outlining the logic behind what you think, feel, or partly understand. This process of explaining a thought in a sense is the process of understanding. To express it more poetically, you are boosting your brainpower by exercising your "explain power."
To better learn something, then, you can keeping a journal of your ideas and take notes. You can also go beyond that. For example, suppose you have a problem to solve. Start writing an explanation of how you will solve it, even if you have no idea how right now. Just start writing anything, and create an explanation. You might be surprised how often this exercise in thinking on paper (or a computer screen) becomes a workable plan.
If you really want to understand a topic, write a book about it. As a writer, I can tell you that writers don't always write because they understand something beforehand. We often write about something because we don't quite get it yet, and we want to understand it better. I felt strongly about the idea of writing as a means to better thinking before I started this article, but in writing it, I have come to a much better understanding of how the process works.
Of course, you may not want to write a book, or even an article, but you can write something.If you're learning something new, write a letter to a friend about it, and you'll understand it better. To invent something, write a explanation of the problem, and why it is worth solving, and you're half-way there. Writing is a powerful way to think better. Why not give it a try?
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