How to Write Usefully

2020-01-31 · Source: Paul Graham Essays · Field: Education & Learning — Skill Development & Professional Training · Depth: Intermediate, long

Summary

Paul Graham's February 2020 essay, "How to Write Usefully," redefines the purpose of an essay from merely persuasive to fundamentally useful. He posits that useful writing must be true, important, novel, and strong, with each component being a matter of degree. Correctness is achieved by rigorous self-editing and not publishing anything uncertain, while importance stems from writing about topics personally meaningful to the author. Novelty arises from deep engagement with a subject, surprising even the author, and strength is balanced by clear thinking and the skillful use of qualification. Graham also acknowledges that this approach can provoke strong reactions due to challenging cherished beliefs and the vulnerability to misrepresentation, yet he advocates for directness and simplicity.

Key takeaway

For writers aiming to produce impactful content, focus on the four pillars of usefulness: truth, importance, novelty, and strength. Rigorously self-edit to ensure correctness and clarity, even if it means discarding significant portions. Be prepared for potential pushback, as strong, novel ideas often challenge existing beliefs, but maintain your conviction by only publishing what you are sure of.

Key insights

Useful writing is true, important, novel, and strong, achieved through rigorous self-editing and deep engagement.

Principles

• Prioritize usefulness over mere persuasion.
• Balance precision with correctness in claims.
• Embrace "publication bias" in essay writing.

Method

Draft quickly, then rewrite meticulously, proofreading until no passages feel clumsy or incorrect. Use personal interest as a proxy for importance and surprise as a proxy for novelty.

In practice

• Delete bad sentences and abandon weak essay branches.
• Write about topics you've thought about extensively.
• Practice writing without immediate publication pressure.

Topics

• Essay Writing Principles
• Useful Writing Components
• Editorial Process
• Writing Challenges
• Online Publishing

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Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Paul Graham Essays.