Got an email today asking something about one of my diary entries. It's always nice to get feedback, isn't it?
I got out of bed and booted my computer to write this entry, because I couldn't get something out of my head. I'm reading Kim Stanley Robinson's The Memory of Whiteness. In it they are discussing music, and if anything can be gained by writing about it. That got me thinking.....
Is there anything to be gained about writing about
software?
Lately, I've been submitting a lot (8 in the last 2
weeks) of stories to Kuro5hin. They have
generally been well recieved, and generated interesting
discussion. Now, I suddenly wonder if this is doing any
good. I've always participated in forums like K5 and /. to
learn and to pass knowledge around. I think I have a talent
for finding things out quickly, and I have fairly broard
knowledge of a lot of areas.
I've always wanted to share my talents to help things I believe in (free software, and communication between people).
I can write software - in fact, I'm fairly good at it, and I enjoy that, too. However, for some reason I'm not motivated to actually complete any of my myriad of software projects (Motivation is a problem for me at work, sometimes, too).
Writing isn't like that, though. If anyone had told me at school, or even university that I would enjoy writing articles more than writing code I'd have laughed. Now I find it is true - I even have the occasional idea of writing a book (if only I was half as good at writing as I am at coding, I'd make a start). But is it useful, or is it just ego-stroking? Does anyone who reads my (hopefully thought provoking) articles actually go away and act on anything they have read, and do their actions make a difference?
Or should I go back to bed, and tomorrow start YAIMP (Yet Another Instant Messaging Program)?