Why Write a Blog?

When asked why they write a blog, many people respond with the obvious:

I discovered something interesting . I think people will learn from this.

While valid, IMHO, these reasons may not be the most compelling.

The Value of Writing

The most important reason to write a blog (or write in general) is that writing is a proven way to learn something new.

Why?

Enter Kidlin's Law: when you write, you build a mental model of concepts previously sitting superficially in your mind. Writing reinforces memory, clarifies details, and makes understanding fluid.

Publishing your writing as a blog adds another layer of accountability. Knowing that a wider audience—including potential critics—will scrutinize your work forces you to research meticulously. This rigor deepens your comprehension and helps you master the topic.

Blogs I always lookout for

The king of blogs I find engaging often possess the following qualities:

They present an obscure concept in a conducive way or adds a fresh perspective.
They educate on something niche or largely unknown.
They explore ambiguity, tackle conundrums, and suggest practical solutions to real case-studies

The ones I am tired of seeing

Conversely, what I typically find dull or irritating are blogs which are:

Rehashing widely known facts without adding value (e.g., superficial tech interview guides, sensational newsletters with very poor research).
Clickbait titles such as How I Sleep 20 Hours a Day and Earn Millions or How I Retired in My 20s—And You Can Too. These belong in the hall of infamy.

So why did I start so late?

Is it FOMO—seeing others write cool stuff and not wanting to miss out? Or was I too busy with work? Neither, really.

Throughout my professional and academic journey, I’ve amassed experiences and read countless articles. Yet, I often find even high-rated content either overwhelming(e.g. Bell's inequality) or overly superficial (e.g., every other article/video on quantum computing).

Striking the Right Balance

My aim is to provide content that strikes a balance:

Not so shallow that it lacks stimulation about the topic.
Not so dense that it stifles thought and scares off those with attention span of a gnat.

For example, if I write about becoming a hobby guitarist with a full-time job, I won’t just discuss beginner guitars or delve into complex music theory. Instead, I’ll focus on the minimum investment of time and money to enjoy the process—a perspective I find most valuable.

Overcoming the Publishing Hurdle

I’ve always written, but publishing required a paradigm shift. Research seemed overwhelming. Yet, addressing this devil in the details becomes essential as you progress professionally. You’re often required to explain complex issues to stakeholders, and developing the intuition to even prioritize what to look for takes years of research and practice.

AI blogging scene

Well you might ask:

Why blog when AI can generate all the answers one needs? Why would someone read the blog, just do your research diligently and call it a day!

Sure, In the ChatGPT era, superficial articles will inevitably be replaced, much like the internet supplanted many technology books. However, human blogs have a critical edge: opinions.

The Human Element

Opinions—the drivers of both great love stories and epic conflicts—are uniquely human. In last 3 decades, I’ve never met two people who agree on everything. This diversity of thought adds richness to discussions that AI can, at its best, mimic.

Moreover, prompt engineering is key to using AI effectively, which fundamentally isn't any different than the the current problem of -- asking the right questions -- (it is called engineering for a reason) . Blogs can serve as guides, helping readers slipstream their way on the knowledge lane, quickly navigating complex topics by building on prior research while not worrying much about asking the right questions. Ironically though, it is because of advent of Chat GPT that has helped me proof read my articles much faster and given me confidence to deliver quickly.

My Goal

Through my blog, I aspire to connect with readers who appreciate my knack for distilling knowledge and making learning engaging—helping them accelerate their journeys from "Aha!" to "Eureka!" one elementary idea at a time.

Stay tuned for upcoming articles. See you soon!