The Eagle and the Child (Russell Smith): Blogging to Learn
About 6 or 7 years ago, I bought William Zinnser's little book Writing to Learn. Zinnser's idea is that the process of writing entails a process of learning — you must collect data, organize that data, and present said data in a clear order. Such interaction with the data cements it in your brain in new and interesting ways. For much of this book he lets us tour his collection of fine writing retrieved from such disparate disciplines as science, philosophy, and math.
This is a fine approach to blogging as well; but modified somewhat The very nature of blogging is relational. Blogging invites commentary from readers, many of them regulars who form a loose cadre of benevolent, though at times sharp-witted, companions.
Russell nails one of my primary reasons for blogging, although I can't say it has improved my grammar or editing ability.
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