I’ve shared many times that I write on here mostly for my own benefit, even just a few days ago with my post on “What am I thinking?“. It’s like David C. Baker said in “The Business of Expertise” when he shared the value of writing a book:
The primary beneficiary of every book is the author because — for me, anyway — clarity comes in the articulation and not after it.
Making your thoughts suitable for publishing is one of the best ways to clear your thinking. It forces you to think through a bit deeper, perhaps find anecdotes or quotes to support your claim, and condense your thoughts into a tight bit of writing instead of rambling paragraphs.
David takes it further by adding:
If I didn’t write, I’d never know what I actually believe, and I hope reading this will inspire you to write for the same reason.
That’s a bit tongue in cheek, of course, but not too far off. Particularly in a case like his, where he devotes a full book to one subject, working through his various ideas to get them in an organized state for a book is a perfect way to “know what he actually believes”. If you want to clarify and understand what you really believe, writing can be a great way to do it.
