If you want to learn something in deep then try to explain it to others. This is the famous advice from one of the most famous Nobel Prize winning Physicists Richard Feynman. So, writing something with the intention of communicating it to others is the best way to get to know it better yourself first. And you'll be surprised how little you knew about it!
Totally agree. When trying to break down complex ideas into logical structure you also detach yourself from your "box" and your perspective and this can bring you new valuable insights. And often does when I do it.
Crafting public documents is also a high leverage activity and can bring you a lot of recognition in the organisation if you do it well.
I started writing on substack too, with one of the goals to improve as a writer, but also that's a different type of writing than I do at my engineering job and I think I'm enjoying it so far
> that's a different type of writing than I do at my engineering job and I think I'm enjoying it so far
Agreed, I noticed that at work people need to read my writing so that we get work done. Public writing on the other hand requires me to think about how to capture people's attention since it is optional for them to read. Eventhough they are different, I think this line of thinking has improved my writing at work as well.
I think the people who can code well and write good technical documentation are going to transition well into the fully AI-assisted world. So much of what I'm seeing involves not so much the ability to code well, but the ability to write clearly about what you want your code to do. I think the people who can write decent code but struggle to write good documentation (comments and formal docs) are going to struggle to make the transition.
The tools are going to write more and more of the code for us. We're going to be spending more time writing about the code and less time writing code.
Agreed. Also I'd expect that it'll also be more important to be able to validate the code you receive. Current AI is great at generating code, but there are lapses in accuracy.
This article was brilliant. Technical writing is a difficult skill to develop. I'm a structural engineer and it's a big part of my job. Sometimes it feels nebulous, like you can't quite describe something in the way that you want. But once you read a clear, succinct explanation for a complex concept, it unlocks a hidden layer of understanding. Good writing is the backbone of everything I've ever learned.
Do you want to collab? I write AI Made Simple (150K+) and Tech Made Simple (25K+). Came across your work from Luca Rossi, and seems like we have synergistic audiences. Let me know if it interests you.
I just started trying writing and it's helping me to put order on topics that I find complex in a coherent way, so it really helping me thinking better.
I like this a lot and definitely agree with the premise! My perspective is somewhat reversed - I was always drawn to the 'subjective' academic pursuits, and my first career was performing as a professional musician. When I made the transition to writing code, I noticed that thinking 'algorithmically' helped me communicate complex ideas with more nuance and clarity, both in written and in verbal form. This has been an asset so far in my second career as a software developer.
Writing will forever be important, I write and then ask ChatGPT to make it shorter, more readable or in list form. Either way, it is an exercise in gaining clarity.
If you want to learn something in deep then try to explain it to others. This is the famous advice from one of the most famous Nobel Prize winning Physicists Richard Feynman. So, writing something with the intention of communicating it to others is the best way to get to know it better yourself first. And you'll be surprised how little you knew about it!
Agreed 100%!
I often find my writing is so disorganized when I don't know a topic well; Writing is a great way to get a deeper understanding
Totally agree. When trying to break down complex ideas into logical structure you also detach yourself from your "box" and your perspective and this can bring you new valuable insights. And often does when I do it.
Crafting public documents is also a high leverage activity and can bring you a lot of recognition in the organisation if you do it well.
I started writing on substack too, with one of the goals to improve as a writer, but also that's a different type of writing than I do at my engineering job and I think I'm enjoying it so far
Welcome to Substack!
> that's a different type of writing than I do at my engineering job and I think I'm enjoying it so far
Agreed, I noticed that at work people need to read my writing so that we get work done. Public writing on the other hand requires me to think about how to capture people's attention since it is optional for them to read. Eventhough they are different, I think this line of thinking has improved my writing at work as well.
Writing improves understanding, along with jogging, and maybe even eating healthier. Great read! Thank you.
Well written. I work at Amazon where writing is encouraged a lot. Past 2 years I have learned the importance of writing.
> The better you are at writing, the more effective you will be at building software.
I love this. Writing is distilling all your thoughts into an organized structure that others can understand. So is coding. 🔥
I think the people who can code well and write good technical documentation are going to transition well into the fully AI-assisted world. So much of what I'm seeing involves not so much the ability to code well, but the ability to write clearly about what you want your code to do. I think the people who can write decent code but struggle to write good documentation (comments and formal docs) are going to struggle to make the transition.
The tools are going to write more and more of the code for us. We're going to be spending more time writing about the code and less time writing code.
Agreed. Also I'd expect that it'll also be more important to be able to validate the code you receive. Current AI is great at generating code, but there are lapses in accuracy.
Came across this article today and I must say that the conciseness and clarity of thoughts were surreal. Felt so rich to read it out.
Just starting off. Thanks for this.
Appreciate it, Thank you!
This article was brilliant. Technical writing is a difficult skill to develop. I'm a structural engineer and it's a big part of my job. Sometimes it feels nebulous, like you can't quite describe something in the way that you want. But once you read a clear, succinct explanation for a complex concept, it unlocks a hidden layer of understanding. Good writing is the backbone of everything I've ever learned.
Thank you James! Agreed, writing leads to deeper understanding
Do you want to collab? I write AI Made Simple (150K+) and Tech Made Simple (25K+). Came across your work from Luca Rossi, and seems like we have synergistic audiences. Let me know if it interests you.
Thanks for reaching out Devansh, I sent you an email
I just started trying writing and it's helping me to put order on topics that I find complex in a coherent way, so it really helping me thinking better.
Very good article!
I like this a lot and definitely agree with the premise! My perspective is somewhat reversed - I was always drawn to the 'subjective' academic pursuits, and my first career was performing as a professional musician. When I made the transition to writing code, I noticed that thinking 'algorithmically' helped me communicate complex ideas with more nuance and clarity, both in written and in verbal form. This has been an asset so far in my second career as a software developer.
Thank you for the inspiring post!
Consistent writing helps to improve my communication and thinking skills.
Glad you liked it NK :)
Writing will forever be important, I write and then ask ChatGPT to make it shorter, more readable or in list form. Either way, it is an exercise in gaining clarity.
Agreed. ChatGPT helps me condense my original thought, which helps me gain clarity too
I couldn’t agree more that writing is so important in collaborations. I learned a lot from you on technical writing during our collaboration.
One of my favorite collaborations! Thank you for reading Jingzhou :)