The Unbalanced Equation in Most Writing Advice (And What to Do About It)
Writing without reading is like paddling a kayak with a one-bladed paddle
Do you know what proficient (and living) whitewater paddlers do before launching into gnarly rapids?
They read the water.
They study the contours and obstacles in a river. They look for danger spots and safety zones. They think about what is upstream, and what is downstream.
It’s not all: drop-in and paddle. Or, paddle consistently. Or, paddle more. Or, paddle harder.
If you are someone who writes and publishes online — does that sort of lingo sound familiar?
- Write consistently
- Write harder
- Write more
It’s the oft-professed advice and directives of online writing gurus. This idea that more writing makes a better writer — is bullshit.
Yes, writing more can lead to some improvements. Just as kayaking more can lead to improved fitness, stamina and boat handling.
But it’s simply not that simple.
