https://jsomers.net/blog/more-people-should-write the jsomers.net blog. * About * Subscribe * Read More * Contact me More people should write by James Somers, September 27, 2012 More people should do what I'm doing right now. They should sit at their computers and bat the cursor around -- write full sentences about themselves and the things they care about. I have a selfish reason for my demand: I have a lot of friends who are thoughtful, but keep their thoughts to themselves. I imagine finding notebooks under their bed, tens of composition books packed with little print. I think about what sort of a treasure that would be. But that's not why you should write. You should write because when you know that you're going to write, it changes the way you live. I'm thinking about a book I read called Field Notes on Science & Nature, a collection of essays by scientists about their notes. It's hard to imagine a more tedious concept -- a book of essays about notes? -- but in execution it was wonderful. What it teaches you, over and over again, is that the difference between you and a zoologist or you and a botanist is that the botanist, when she looks at a flower, has a question in mind. She's trying to generate questions. For her the flower is the locus of many mental threads, some nascent, some spanning her career. Her field notebook is not some convenient way to store lifeless data to be presented in lifeless papers so that other scientists can replicate some dull experiment; it's the site of a collision between a mind and a world. [photo] That's the promise: you will live more curiously if you write. You will become a scientist, if not of the natural world than of whatever world you care about. More of that world will pop alive. You will see more when you look at it. It's like what happens to a room during a game of "I Spy": if your friend spies something red, the red stuff glows. When I have a piece of writing in mind, what I have, in fact, is a mental bucket: an attractor for and generator of thought. It's like a thematic gravity well, a magnet for what would otherwise be a mess of iron filings. I'll read books differently and listen differently in conversations. In particular I'll remember everything better; everything will mean more to me. That's because everything I perceive will unconsciously engage on its way in with the substance of my preoccupation. A preoccupation, in that sense, is a hell of a useful thing for a mind. Writing needn't be a formal enterprise to have this effect. You don't have to write well. You don't even have to "write," exactly -- you can just talk onto the page. I suggest writing emails to your friends. Writing with an audience in mind makes the writing better, and writing to a friend means you won't get hung up on how you sound. You'll become closer, too, to whoever you share your thoughts with, and odds are you'll draw the same thoughtfulness out of them. Your inbox will become less of a place for coupons and bullshit than for the thoughts of humans you like. Walk around with a pen and a scrap of paper. Write some meaty emails. Engage more intensely with this place. Read More: I've written 30 other posts Get updates: RSS feed Sign up for updates on my writing [ ] [Subscribe] Powered by Buttondown. 50 Responses to "More people should write" 1. [90354] Diego Andrade says: October 13, 2012 at 5:17 pm I for one salute the idea of writing anything to everyone. I hope to be a continual imagination fountain in the screen one day. For that more and more writing is needed. 2. [702c4] anon says: October 13, 2012 at 5:59 pm I write a lot all the time and I don't mind humans reading (most of) what I write. I don't want machines reading it and data mining it, or indexing it to allow idiots to pull out-of-context quotes years later. So it's all scattered behind pseudonyms, on password protected pages where the password is easy for interested humans to find but obscure enough to deter miners and robots, etc. 3. [9b7ab] Dan McReavy says: October 13, 2012 at 6:45 pm For many people, there is a fear of criticism that is just enough to dissuade them from even beginning. I, too, believe that writing is critical to creating, analyzing and just plain being aware of the world around you. I went so far as to build a platform that enables writers to pin their articles to a location so readers can sort the content by pinning themselves. The initial concept is to be a community platform for crowd sourcing news, but it can go in many directions from there. Just start writings, folks! + [236f7] Erin says: October 15, 2012 at 4:43 am I think it's also our distraction from connection with something that dissuades people from beginning. It's easier to play online or watch a movie and be more detached than to mull over what you are thinking and create something out of nothing. o [9b7ab] Dan McReavy says: October 18, 2012 at 10:37 am Instant gratification is a serious individual and social problem. Investing isn't just a financial activity! People should take greater care and caution in the thoughts, principles and values they examine and relate to the world through. Annnngry Birds isn't just going to kill time, it costs you the opportunity to learn productive thoughts, ideas and skills that add to your own true quality of life as well as others'! "opportunity cost" # [236f7] Erin says: October 21, 2012 at 2:44 pm Hear hear. It takes great discipline to be the person you want to be everyday despite feelings and whims. But, if you can break into that place, where work (writing/conscious doing) isn't daunting, nothing is more rewarding. 4. Here goes! | Nicole Zuckerman says: October 13, 2012 at 7:26 pm [...] but to increase general curiosity, amplify focus on the world, and just overall pay more attention. Here's that post, if you feel like being galvanized toward committing pen to paper or keys to [...] 5. [4ea10] Sid.Sevier says: October 13, 2012 at 8:15 pm Great short article. I have kept a utility type notebook for years. Sometimes it serves as a place for lists of things to do and other times it is a draft of ideas about a project. But, your article has encouraged me to expand it to be a scientific observational journal. Thx 6. [4debd] Amos Wenger says: October 13, 2012 at 9:54 pm Wholeheartedly agree, thanks for making this point. I've been trying to write more at http://amos.me/ and encourage my friends to do so as well but for some reason many people shy away from writing what they think :) Thanks again for encouraging everyone. 7. [b60d8] Ryan says: October 14, 2012 at 3:35 am I really appreciate you saying this. Writing is important. And other media of communication as well. Draw more, kick a ball around more, talk more, make more web pages, play music more. Thanks! Keep writing bro! 8. [aa321] Mary Meddlemore says: October 14, 2012 at 5:01 am Yes! Yes! Yes! What I believe too. We all have stories to tell! 9. [06237] nXqd says: October 14, 2012 at 6:42 am Thanks for reaching out words. But I think people still keep the thought that everyone has secret. So I think we should add one more point to this article : Write your thought and public what is relevant for another people to know about you. 10. [797a7] Amy says: October 14, 2012 at 7:28 am I agree. it amplifies everything when you write...and when you write huge amounts to one person constantly you start to think you are in love. The confusion was that I was in love with myself and the world (or maybe writing itself), not with him. + [236f7] Erin says: October 15, 2012 at 4:41 am Yes! You write to another and your image of them changes. And yourself. You may not have been in love with them in real life, but if they write good letters, 4 years later, they are this metaphor to lust after. It's a strange phenomenon. The intimacy a letter gives. 11. More people should write << the jsomers.net blog | Itsaat says: October 14, 2012 at 12:14 pm [...] URL: http://jsomers.net/blog/more-people-should-write [...] 12. [1c2ff] Benadman says: October 14, 2012 at 12:20 pm This is why I write and blog and journal. It's not all good, but it brings me joy no matter what I write or who my audience is. All I know is that every little thing seems like it could be a part of a book or a blog or just something I write about. Great post! 13. [44c34] ZoltaN says: October 14, 2012 at 2:32 pm Montherlant ( Le maitre de Santiago ) "Tellement peu de choses qui valent d'etre dites. Et tellement peu de gens qui valent qu'on leur dise les autres choses. Tout cela fait beaucoup de SILENCE" I guess you can find this play by Montherlant translated in English. Or see Peter Schaffer/Milos Forman (Amadeus) "Too many notes = too many words" 14. More people should photograph | Life in the Shell says: October 14, 2012 at 4:00 pm [...] reading James Somers' post on why everyone should write, I couldn't agree more with his points. I started writing a year [...] 15. [197fa] Karen says: October 14, 2012 at 6:24 pm Even better: More people should paint. + [236f7] Erin says: October 15, 2012 at 4:39 am That too! 16. What is this blog all about? | Stumbling Through Bioinformatics says: October 14, 2012 at 7:14 pm [...] I think young scientists (like me) should get more practice writing. I was also inspired by James Somers' recent blog post about how everyone should write. If you have any thoughts or better [...] 17. You should write more | Only A Model says: October 14, 2012 at 8:30 pm [...] James Somers in More People Should Write: [...] 18. [236f7] Erin says: October 15, 2012 at 4:38 am I'm a big letters fan. I've always thought letters even make good literature. I'm writing a book about letter writing. Where you are, how you're feeling, the weather all determines the mood of your work that day. By putting your thoughts into words, you are making them real. 19. [3f8a4] Darryl says: October 15, 2012 at 8:07 am I am guilty of not putting enough time aside to write lately. This post was just the kick in the ass I needed. 20. [b2356] Gillian Morris says: October 15, 2012 at 9:30 am As someone who's recently revived a blog, I totally agree that the anticipation of writing makes you more attentive to your surroundings. I also lived abroad for three years, and got into the habit of writing a postcard almost every day. It's a good practice, I think, to help remember specific conversations and deepen relationships with people in a way that too few people do today. 21. [f8a7c] Franklin Chen says: October 15, 2012 at 5:33 pm Inspirational! I have always found writing to be a tremendous part of my life, whether handwriting letters (in my youth) or sending emails, and now, in the past year, writing for my own blog. More than anything else, I find that it breaks cycles of thinking that lead nowhere, and creates new, interesting paths for my mind to go to, and an honest artifact to reflect upon: "yes, I actually did say that and believe that once, I cannot disown it". 22. Things Learned From A Month Living in Bali With 20 Entrepreneurs at Project Getaway | ActNow Blog says: October 16, 2012 at 2:46 am [...] "More People Should Write" Somers says, It's like what happens to a room during a game of "I Spy": if your friend [...] 23. Pisanina // Bol'she liudei dolzhny pisat' says: October 16, 2012 at 6:50 am [...] dolzhny pisat' 16.10.12 @ 14:50 -- Literature, Creative, Science (avtor - James Somers, perevod - [...] 24. [65c56] Mansour says: October 16, 2012 at 2:04 pm I really liked your game of I Spy analogy. I've been telling my friends and family to setup a blog and just write about anything. I think writing about the thoughts/ideas we have, brings them closer to reality and like a product that's gone through quality control, they become ready to be useful, not just things taking up space. I wrote about a similar topic last year: http:// blog.oxplot.com/2011/11/ want-to-know-what-time-it-is-ask-it-in.html I live by it. Good write, thanks. + [4cd96] James Somers says: October 16, 2012 at 9:21 pm Thanks, Mansour. Read your post--great stuff. I totally agree, and often I'll do the same thing. Works like a charm! 25. 3,333 kilometers from home | Synapticism says: October 16, 2012 at 4:52 pm [...] Moving far from home is a golden opportunity to reset personal habits. I intend to get fit and be way more active than I was in Toronto. I also plan to blog more, as everyone should. [...] 26. Sobre llegir i escriure << Nomes 5 linies says: October 17, 2012 at 3:09 pm [...] un blog que crec que val la pena seguir. Hi he llegit un article sobre llegir i un altre sobre escriure. Bona lectura. Like this:LikeBe the first to like this. [...] 27. [7a457] Kjetil H says: October 17, 2012 at 4:39 pm Definitely agree. I think the most important effect from writing is to release inner steam, express thoughts, feelings and opinions. It frees your mind. For the more sensitive stuff I write on a secret blog using a fake persona / e-mail account. I don't even know if anyone's reading any of it, but it let's me express both bright and dark stuff anonymously. Ps I always use Tor when posting there to ensure anonymity for ISPs etc. Writing also improves your writing skills (shocker ey) which is a fairly multipurpose full skill. You learn to construct your sentences to be more efficient, and how to write more interestingly. 28. October 21, 2012 book news | The Wapshott Press says: October 22, 2012 at 12:09 am [...] More people should write [...] 29. Write More. Write To Your Friends. << Books I Read says: October 24, 2012 at 6:19 am [...] Somers has an idea: more people should write. He explains in his blog post: When I have a piece of writing in mind, what I have, in fact, is a mental bucket: an attractor for [...] 30. Everyone Should Write | The Penn Ave Post says: November 1, 2012 at 9:41 am [...] Should Write Posted at 11:00 on November 1, 2012 by Andrew Sullivan Says James Somers: You should write because when you know that you're going to write, it changes the [...] 31. 'Collision Between A Mind, World' | A Story.In says: November 1, 2012 at 3:34 pm [...] before you. Fresh eyes. Fresh observations. Fresh stories. Check out Somers' post at his blog. Photo credit: Flower's.Lover, via [...] 32. [cf3e3] Pandi says: November 1, 2012 at 5:31 pm I used to blog, but I got tired of trolls, stalkers, and weirdos. Now I write for a handful of people in a locked journal. Once you've been harassed by people who can't bear the thought of someone in the world writing something they disagree with, it loses its luster. 33. I Work Here | Fine in the Tub says: November 2, 2012 at 12:59 pm [...] the Swedelock sent me an article on why more people should write. I was all fiiiiine, I'll turn on the laptop. Between my iPad and my iPhone, no one can stop [...] 34. Blog Introduction: Thematic Gravity | bhsangree says: November 3, 2012 at 11:25 am [...] ideas and thoughts for the world to see. But what I found really inspirational was coming across this piece written by a friend of [...] 35. [d5ea7] Ben Sangree says: November 3, 2012 at 11:47 am Awesome post James! Reading this was the final push I needed to finally getting my website up. 36. On Writing and Interconnectedness | sillisoup says: November 9, 2012 at 12:43 pm [...] me by a good friend who knows I like to write, comes from James Somers' blog and is entitled More people should write. Now, before I get into the details of Somers' case for writing, let me just say that in my [...] 37. 5 Quick Trends << Storychick says: November 11, 2012 at 12:08 pm [...] wonderful post on the impact of writing (and storytelling) on your view of the world. Thinking about the life [...] 38. Writing letters | Khairul says: November 16, 2012 at 2:34 am [...] - via James Somers [...] 39. It is always worth establishing first principles | First Principles says: December 1, 2012 at 3:38 pm [...] James Somers has guilt tripped into writing more. I post on Twitter as a way to bookmark articles and keep in touch with friends, and I regularly tag the hundred or so feeds I follow on Google Reader for later reference. However, I'm rarely forced to put my thoughts in a cogent form for public consumption. I believe Jeff Bezos would appreciate James' argument that writing acts as "an attractor and generator of thought." At the very least, I hope to expose the gaps in thought I hadn't previously recognized. [...] 40. Happy New Year | Ben Bansal says: January 5, 2013 at 2:12 am [...] up this blog but already I can sense that it was a good idea. Perhaps it is best encapsulated in this post a good friend of mine alerted me to: That's the promise: you will live more curiously if you [...] 41. 2012 Archive of Hanselman's Newsletter of Wonderful Things - Scott Hanselman says: January 7, 2013 at 8:53 pm [...] More people should write. I've been saying this for years, for different reasons. [...] 42. Hantar surat kepada sahabat anda | Sembang Komputer says: January 25, 2013 at 9:11 pm [...] mulanya saya mengambil inspirasi daripada artikel ini, di mana si penulis mencadangkan agar anda menghantar emel kepada kawan-kawan. Apabila anda menulis [...] 43. Some Good Reads | Gone Paleoish says: February 13, 2013 at 12:07 am [...] Reads: More People Should Write (Totally Agree) What do you see? (Guilty)35 Life LessonsMake a DifferenceAwesome 60-year [...] 44. [0b2dd] Mahendra Chhimwal says: March 5, 2013 at 7:05 am Hello \ writing is one of the habit which makes someones mind live and working.Thoughts flashed in every ones mind but some of these lets them go and after some time they forget it,on the other hand few of them catch these thoughts and write a masterpiece .That thing made the difference between these two kind of people.You wrote a wonderful article here and thoroughly enjoy it while reading. << Previous Post Next Post >> [ ] [Search] (c) James Somers. Powered by WordPress and Manifest