Andrew Sullivan: How Blogging Has Changed Writing

TL;DR

Online writing platforms have transformed non-fiction writing into a constant presentness, challenging traditional future-oriented processes.

Transcript

well um I think it's changed the art of of a kind of writing I I don't think it's done anything to change for example uh fiction or poetry um although it might um uh most of those experiments have not really panned out um I do think that what it's done with non-fiction is is really destroy a particular process which is a future oriented process of ... Read More

Key Insights

• ✍️ Online writing platforms have revolutionized non-fiction writing by introducing a constant presentness and provisional nature to the process.
• 🤔 Blogging allows for real-time thinking and writing, challenging writers to adapt to evolving facts and arguments.
• 💭 Writers like Pascal and Montaigne showcase the fluidity of thoughts and the evolving nature of ideas through their unfinished and ever-evolving writings.
• 🤔 The notion of a completed evolution of thinking is refuted, with intellectual growth requiring a continuous acknowledgment of mistakes and misunderstandings.
• 💢 The online era has transformed writing into a dynamic and ever-evolving process, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and openness to change.
• ✍️ Traditional writing processes focused on completion and polish, while online writing platforms prioritize real-time thinking and the fluidity of ideas.
• 💢 The evolution of writing in the online era challenges writers to embrace the constantly changing nature of facts, arguments, and perspectives.

Questions & Answers

Q: How has online writing platforms impacted traditional writing processes?

Online platforms have shifted writing from future-oriented to a presentness, challenging the completion-focused process with its real-time nature and ever-evolving facts and arguments.

Q: What are the key differences in writing styles between traditional and online writing?

Traditional writing emphasizes completion and polish, while online writing showcases constant presentness, provisional nature, and the evolution of thoughts and ideas.

Q: How do writers like Pascal and Montaigne embody the fluidity of thoughts in their writings?

Pascal and Montaigne's unfinished and evolving writings demonstrate the ever-changing nature of thoughts, allowing for new ideas and perspectives to be integrated over time.

Q: What philosophical principle does the speaker emphasize regarding writing and thinking?

The speaker highlights the continuous evolution of thinking and the acknowledgment of mistakes or misunderstandings as crucial components of intellectual growth, refuting the notion of a static, completed evolution.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Online writing has changed the art of writing, particularly in non-fiction, by shifting it from a future-oriented process to a constant presentness.

• Blogging allows writers to think and write in real-time, making everything written provisional due to the evolving nature of facts and arguments.

• Writers like Pascal and Montaigne exemplify this evolution through their unfinished and ever-evolving writings, demonstrating the fluidity of thoughts.