The Dynamics Between Writing and Talking

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Writing and talking go together like water and oil. You can talk or you can write. You can’t do both.

As Robert Frost eloquently put it: “Talking is a hydrant in the yard and writing is a faucet upstairs in the house. Opening the first takes all the pressure off the second.”

Writing is an introverted activity. It takes a wellspring of internal energy to translate thoughts and ideas into effective prose. It doesn’t happen by accident.

Talking is an extroverted activity where your energy is poured into another person.

In writing, one is focused on translating one’s thoughts and ideas into comprehensible syntax and meaning. In talking, one is focused on articulating ideas so that another person will understand while simultaneously trying to listen and apprehend what the other person is attempting to communicate.

Writing and talking are of two different worlds. Writing is isolating—it’s a job of one. Talking is communal—it’s a job of at least two. As humans seem to be social creatures by design, talking comes more natural. Writing takes greater effort.

Writing requires special conditions like large blocks of uninterrupted time. For some, nothing else is needed; others may also require total quiet, a cup of coffee, a leather journal, a medium tip pen and a MacBook Pro.

Writing and talking are both complex—both require a great deal of energy. So if you want to write more, stay quiet.

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Related posts:

1. Why Writing Journals Are Still Important
2. On the Craft of Writing
3. Communicating Ideas Effectively With Words