an argument on styles of writing

[Jonathan Barlow Gee]

a debate between different types of media authors:

"A writer reads, always." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_David

"A writer writes, always." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Throw_Momma_from_the_Train

the idealist would naturally respond with "both." But let us pause to consider the realist perspective of "neither" as well. "Both" is a nice idea. But one cannot do "Both" ALL the time. One cannot even do only one OR the other ALL the time, and therefore the realist perspective is that a writer neither reads NOR writes ALWAYS, but MAY do one, the other, or even BOTH, at different times. One maybe "reading" more than "writing" at one time, or "writing" more than 'reading," even while doing BOTH, if such were even possible. In turn, one will, over time, either read more or write more, or else (rarely) do both equally. But, realistically, one who does BOTH can only ever do more of one than the other, thus, even by doing BOTH you can still only do one OR the other by majority in the end. Therefore, (again) realistically, a candle burning at both ends will only burn half as long, and so the BEST ultimate option is to do NEITHER.

non-fiction writing is futile 9 times out of 10, because it does not connect rapidly enough with its most ideal (both interested and technically proficient) audiences; in the field of technical writing, there is a high turn-around rate for information obsolescence, and what is "important news" one day may prove a false lead the next.

fiction writing is dangerous at best. Those consumed by writing or reading fictions are the poster-children for wasted human potential, and our desire to squander our infinite capacity for knowledge on trivial lies and fictionalizations. This is the very least of the danger fiction poses to the "real" world.

writing is a byproduct of language. Neither are necessary for successful communication.

If you "read" more than you "write," you are passively in the audience.

If you "write" more than you "read," you are performing on a social stage.