If you want to be a writer, study electrical engineering

You’ll have to forgive me; I couldn’t find the quote I’m alluding to in the subject line. It’s from Kurt Vonnegut Jr., one of my longtime favourite writers.

I don’t know which book it comes from (I have almost all of them).

But the gist is if you want to become a writer, he recommends studying anything other than writing. That way, you’ll have something to write about.

Here’s a Vonnegut quote I did find that relates:

I’ve got this on my mind because of friend of the list, and fellow daily email aficionado, Kevin Freidberg’s piece Try Learning the Viola.

In it, he points out that “picking up a skill in a totally different area can improve a skill in the area you’re most interested in.”

The truth!

So many great ideas come from synthesis, from analogy. From taking knowledge in one sphere and applying it in another.

What you do when you’re away from the desk is potentially even more important than what you do when you’re not. So treat your life and leisure time accordingly. It is vital.

And what better time to say this than on a Friday?

Weekending,
James