Discover the crucial difference between writing-to-think and writing-to-publish — and how separating them can transform your academic writing workflow.
The Wrong Question We Keep Asking About Writing
I often get asked, “How do you start writing?”
And while the question seems straightforward, it hides a trap. Because before we talk about how, we need to ask what kind of writing we’re even talking about.
This distinction is not just a technicality. It’s the difference between staying stuck and making meaningful progress. Between generating original ideas — and polishing finished ones.
In short: If you’re trying to write before you think, you’re setting yourself up for frustration.
Mode 1: Writing-to-Think (Your Hidden Superpower)
This is the phase most people underestimate — or skip entirely.
Writing-to-think is not about producing a publishable draft. It’s about giving shape to your thoughts while they’re still forming. It’s messy. Incomplete. Sometimes incoherent. But that’s the point.
This kind of writing:
- Doesn’t aim for perfection — it aims for momentum
- Clarifies complexity — it’s how you discover what you’re really trying to say
- Is private by design — the only audience is you
If you’re sitting at your desk thinking, “I’m getting nowhere,” there’s a good chance you’re doing this kind of work — but not recognizing it as progress.
Treat writing-to-think as part of your research system.
It’s how you stop being a consumer of ideas and start becoming a contributor.
Mode 2: Writing-to-Publish (Where Precision Matters)
Once your thinking has taken shape, the goal shifts. Now you’re not exploring — you’re communicating. That’s an entirely different task.
Writing-to-publish means:
- Making a case to a specific audience
- Choosing your structure and citations intentionally
- Editing for clarity, coherence, and style
This mode demands focus and polish. And it’s where feedback becomes critical — from peers, reviewers, or editors. Personally, I’ve always learned the most about writing through this collaborative process: writing drafts, submitting them, and improving through revision. Do this three or four times, and you will level up.
But here’s the key: you can’t do both types of writing at once.
Trying to write polished paragraphs while still figuring out your ideas? That’s how you end up staring at a blinking cursor for hours.
Why Separating These Modes Saves Your Sanity (and Your Time)
Here’s what happens when you confuse the two modes:
| What You Think Is Happening | What’s Actually Happening |
|---|---|
| “I’m blocked.” | You’re trying to publish before you’ve thought. |
| “This draft is terrible.” | It’s a thinking draft, not a final one. |
| “I’m slow and inefficient.” | You’re doing two jobs at once — no wonder. |
Academia doesn’t often teach this. We’re thrown into publication demands without a system. But when you build your workflow around these two modes, everything changes.
You stop asking, “Why is this so hard?”
And start asking, “Which mode am I in right now?”
That’s a powerful shift.
How to Build a More Effective Academic Writing Workflow
If you want more ease and structure in your writing process, try this:
- Start every project with a “thinking file”
Free-write. Diagram. List. Argue with yourself on paper. No judgment. - Set a threshold for shifting to drafting
You don’t need complete clarity — just enough structure to start shaping your argument. - Block separate time for each mode (example based on my personal energetic levels)
Mornings: thinking drafts.
Afternoons: revision and polish.
Mixing modes in one session dilutes both. - Get external feedback at the right stage
Don’t wait until you’re “done.” But don’t send out raw chaos either. Find the midpoint.
Final Thought: Writing is the Work
Writing-to-think isn’t the warm-up. It is research. It’s how you arrive at new insights.
Writing-to-publish isn’t just editing. It’s how your work meets the world.
When you treat each mode with intention, your entire academic writing workflow becomes more humane — and more productive.
You don’t need a better brain.
You need a better system.