The Purpose of Writing • Hacker News Board

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#11

Post by elliotbnvl » Fri, Nov 27, 2020, 11:19 PM UTC

> I am happy when others enjoy my work and when I can offer a new perspective, but for me, the criticism of my ideas is the most rewarding part of publishing... If you are searching for truth, you will articulate the most extreme and radical consequences of your ideas, precisely because others will disagree with them and tell you where your ideas are wrong.

This, right here. Massive paradigm shift for me. If you hide your ego behind walls of ambiguity, you will never learn and you will always be wrong.

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#12

Post by TexasRed » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 12:04 AM UTC

If I was in an orchestra and played a blow-horn, I would have said 'it is a faggotry (actual instrument not a slur btw) to follow these contrived etc x N' write like a madman. Do drugs. Drink. Don't be afraid of letting the PEN (keep it analogue) draw your words. Never burn your notes. Be proud of your notes. Guard them like a bank. Or share them like a philantrophist.

Best and only post posted on HN since the Paedother Niel, Dang wankery! let's keep posts up !

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#13

Post by grawprog » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 12:49 AM UTC

I'm sorry, but i didn't like this article. The purpose of writing is to communicate an idea. Something this article failed to do. If there's one thing I was taught that's most important in writing is be concise and get to the point.

This article sure talks about a lot of things, it uses a lot of words, but it wanders aimlessly and doesn't focus on anything.

There's two kinds of writing. The kinds shown and mentioned in the article that allows you to put out a flow of ideas. this kind of writing is meant to be turned into the second kind of writing.

A concise summary of said ideas focused in a way that easily communicates said idea to other readers.

This article should be the second kind of writing focused on the author's epiphany about the first kind of writing.

Instead, it's reads like an unrefined stream of conciousness written down during the author's epiphany.

That kind of stuff is hard to read without being turned into the second kind of writing.

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#14

Post by pcmaffey » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 1:49 AM UTC

elliotbnvl wrote: post #11

> I am happy when others enjoy my work and when I can offer a new perspective, but for me, the criticism of my ideas is the most rewarding part of publishing... If you are searching for truth, you will articulate the most extreme and radical consequences of your ideas, precisely because others will disagree with them and tell you where your ideas are wrong. This, right here. Massive paradigm shift for me. If you hide…

Ergo, the purpose of writing is to destroy your ego.

That way, something more interesting can take its place.

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#15

Post by reidjs » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 6:28 AM UTC

grawprog wrote: post #13

I'm sorry, but i didn't like this article. The purpose of writing is to communicate an idea. Something this article failed to do. If there's one thing I was taught that's most important in writing is be concise and get to the point. This article sure talks about a lot of things, it uses a lot of words, but it wanders aimlessly and doesn't focus on anything. There's two kinds of writing. The kinds shown and mentioned…

I believe writing can also be used purely for entertainment, especially humor/fiction writing.

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#16

Post by nxpnsv » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 7:55 AM UTC

Thanks for a pleasant read. I like the text focused layout of this blog, the quotes look great. While I think there are many purposes of writing: clearer thinking, communicating, enjoyment, etc. I don't think it can be boiled down to a single purpose without becoming a tautology like writing is the purpose of writing. Also, "Isn't it a little pretentious to quote yourself?" - nxpnsv. (Actually I didn't mind, but that would ruin my joke).

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#17

Post by nxpnsv » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 8:03 AM UTC

grawprog wrote: post #13

I'm sorry, but i didn't like this article. The purpose of writing is to communicate an idea. Something this article failed to do. If there's one thing I was taught that's most important in writing is be concise and get to the point. This article sure talks about a lot of things, it uses a lot of words, but it wanders aimlessly and doesn't focus on anything. There's two kinds of writing. The kinds shown and mentioned…

A large portion of what I write is to not forget something. I found that better writing means I remember better. So, self-communication perhaps. However, there are many more sides to writing. I find building with language enjoyable as recreation, that is in a class like hobby coding, making, gaming, puzzle solving, or whatever floats your boat... there is no single purpose. Literature certainly is not about getting to the point, there might not even be a point.

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#18

Post by Veen » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 9:18 AM UTC

emit_time wrote: post #6

Tim Ferriss frequently talks about the writing class he took with John McPhee (author of Levels of the Game) and how as he took that class, the grades went up in the rest of his classes. He says it’s probably due to refined thinking from taking the class.

People who are interested in McPhee’s writing might want to read “Draft No. 4,” where he discusses his craft.

(Although if you’re a “concision above all else” type, as some commenters in this thread seems to be, McPhee is probably not for you).

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#19

Post by dreamer7 » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 11:24 AM UTC

not_knuth wrote: post #8

Very well written article! > "However, more often than discovering that your ideas are wrong, you will discover something different: that you do not know what you think. Sure, you have some vague idea, and you believe that there is a chain of reasoning that leads to a certain conclusion. But what you will discover is that this chain of reasoning is mostly not existent. At best, it has many holes and maybe leads not w…

The quoted section also reminded me of my experience with coding. I sometimes think I've thought through the entire implementation. But when i begin coding, I notice the gaps in my implementation or cases that I hadn't considered earlier.

Re: The Purpose of Writing

#20

Post by watwut » Sat, Nov 28, 2020, 3:18 PM UTC

grawprog wrote: post #13

I'm sorry, but i didn't like this article. The purpose of writing is to communicate an idea. Something this article failed to do. If there's one thing I was taught that's most important in writing is be concise and get to the point. This article sure talks about a lot of things, it uses a lot of words, but it wanders aimlessly and doesn't focus on anything. There's two kinds of writing. The kinds shown and mentioned…

I really don't think writing needs to be that one thing or first step toward that one think.

Pretty often people write to clear head and process what is happening. Very often people write for fun - either own or fun of other people.

None of that is supposed to be concise or get to point.

Plus, writing to teach others is often better when not concise. The long version is often easier to remember then sort one.