Writing v Thinking

The ancient struggle

I taught high school English for 14 years and often I would ask a particular student why he wasn’t writing. Invariably, the the answer was “I’m thinking.”

So, I made this sign:

If you’re sitting there thinking and not writing, how can you start?

Writing is a generative activity, and if you are not writing, you’re not generating new thoughts, you’re merely following the thoughts you already have.

The truth about writing is simple. Don’t stare at the emptiness; write. Don’t think; write. If you’re not writing, you’re not thinking