---
aliases: ["Writing"]
Is A: Topic
---
# Writing

Writing covers the craft of putting ideas into words clearly, consistently, and for a specific audience. It spans the mechanics of good prose, the habits that sustain a weekly publishing cadence, the editorial mindset needed to serve a technical readership, and the deeper question of what makes writing worth reading in the first place.

## Why this matters

Writing is the core skill of the entire Refactoring operation. Every newsletter edition, every essay, every podcast show note, every sponsor report — all of it depends on the ability to write clearly and persuasively. Improving as a writer is the single highest-leverage investment in the business. The evergreen notes [[writing-for-clarity-vs-writing-for-credit]] and [[on-consistency-in-creative-work]] capture two foundational principles: write to be understood (not to sound smart), and show up reliably (not brilliantly once in a while). This topic connects to [[responsibility-content-production]] on the operational side and to [[topic-reading-books]] on the input side, since the best writers are always avid readers.

## Key resources

- [[writing-for-clarity-vs-writing-for-credit]] — the guiding principle for all Refactoring content
- [[on-consistency-in-creative-work]] — why regular publishing matters more than occasional masterpieces
- [[note-on-writing-well]] — William Zinsser's classic, reread annually, on simplicity and humanity in nonfiction prose
- [[note-show-your-work]] — Austin Kleon's manifesto for sharing the creative process openly
- "Draft No. 4" by John McPhee — the best book on the structural craft of nonfiction writing

## Notes

- The most common writing mistake in technical content is assuming the reader has the same context as the writer — good technical writing is an exercise in empathy
- Editing is where writing quality actually happens; the first draft is just raw material, and the willingness to cut and restructure separates good writers from average ones
- Writing for a weekly cadence requires accepting that not every piece will be exceptional — the consistent output matters more than individual brilliance, and the average quality rises over time through sheer practice
- Voice is the competitive moat in newsletter writing; tactics and insights can be copied, but a distinctive voice cannot be replicated
- The best way to improve as a writer is to read good writing carefully and to write frequently — there are no shortcuts, and that is both discouraging and liberating
