writing up ideas

[Adam Blatner]

Hi Patti and all, I was struck by one part of your email a few days ago when you wrote: ... Of course I always have ideas about it and ongoing study continually helps me expand my ideas, particularly the exciting field of neuropsychiatry with its focus on the functioning of the brain and how the brain is effected by our experiences and how these brain responses drive feeling, thought and behavior.  But it still does not explain it all.
       Perhaps that is why I do not write about what I observe in my sessions with clients and posit what those observations may mean about us humans and about roles in the Morenian sense.  Aside from the fact that writing is a laborious process for me, I also believe that anything I could present is only one piece of the amazing complexity of our beingness, and so I prefer to let my ongoing learning manifest in my clinical work with clients rather than write about it.  However, I do understand the importance of putting to words what I am doing and why, if for no other reason than to keep my left brain's analytical functioning in balance with my more developed right brain's intuitive and sensing function. 

    aside from the further content of your email, and speaking to the problem of professionals writing up their ideas and work for professional journals---and this is aimed at everyone on grouptalk and in the field!----, I envision a network in which people can ask if others might be interested in co-writing a paper. I think there may be people who don't find writing to be a laborious process, and others who have experiences and/or ideas but have trouble articulating them. I see these folks networking and cooperating. I imagine the easy-writer saying, "I'll help you write if we can chat on the phone, exchange some rough drafts, or I'll write up what you dictate---the function of the amanuensis---. then you correct and I edit and say more, allow the warm-up to happen over several iterations, replays. Finally, we have a paper. I'll be a second co-author and we'll make sure you are featured as the first author and the originator of the key observations. Depending on what i put in, just good writing, some theory, references, whatever role components, that'll be spelled out also. Point is that the material gets out there for others to use, and we all feel we're making a contribution. 
      I fear I may be idealistic in proposing this, but I do know there are doers who don't write and there are writers who do some, but have less experience. This way both can become more recognized for their various skills. 

       I wonder if more folks would collaborate like this if the journal wouldn't get many more contributions!? 

                 Warmly, Adam
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