If you still aren’t sure and need some convincing, read the next section. WHY DO IT THIS WAY? Writing is challenging for most people. Why? It’s not because they are stupid or lazy or unskilled. It’s because writing requires deep, specialized skill. The writing skill is a totally different skill from having intelligence, wisdom, experience, or knowledge to share. Think about it: How many intelligent and accomplished people do you know who have all kinds of things to say, but hate writing? Quite a few, I am sure (you might even be one). The inverse is true, as well. How many skilled and experienced writers have you read who use lots of beautiful words to effectively say nothing? Sadly, that might describe the majority of professional writers. Writing is a specific cognitive skill that is totally distinct from think- ing and acquiring wisdom. Just like the ability to do math in your head is a skill distinct from being a good mathematician (Richard Feynman, the brilliant quantum physicist, often used calculators), or the ability to read sheet music is not a necessary skill to be a - great musician (Jimi Hendrix, the legendary guitarist and per former, couldn’t read sheet music), writing has nothing to do with anything other than the ability to write. This begs the question: Is the skill of writing really a necessary part of sharing knowledge and ideas? 150 · ThE SCriBE METhOD