I was talking about and teaching editing yesterday. That is something I began learning many years ago, and which everyone who wants to communicate has to know.
Long ago, I came to think of writing as the art of taking an idea for a walk. The writer's task is to explain why the walk is worth taking, requiring that they explain why their idea matters. They must also show where they are heading, meaning there should be an implicit point to the journey in their work.
That might sound obvious, but I say it here for a reason. Too often, whether in blogs, videos, substacks or even in the comments on this blog, I come across thoughts that have not yet been taken for a walk. They are still sitting on the doorstep where they might be interesting, perhaps, but are not yet moving anywhere.
When I read or watch such a piece, I sometimes find myself thinking: I can see there is something here, but the writer has not yet decided what path they are on, nor what they hope those who follow them will discover along the way. That is because a good idea needs motion. It needs direction. It needs to make sense to those walking with you.
So, a few reflections.
First, if you are going to comment, or write, or indeed make any argument in public, ask yourself: what question am I really trying to answer? If you cannot say, neither will your reader ever be able to.
Second, decide where you want to go. It is fine to wander, because we all do sometimes, but even a meandering walk has a purpose, whether it be discovery, connection, or reflection. A piece of writing should move somewhere, and, vitally, take others with it.
Third, remember that clarity is an act of respect. If you know your route, others can follow you. If you do not, they will lose interest long before you reach the end.
Finally, recognise that the purpose of writing, at least as I understand it, is not to show off what you know but to invite others into a shared journey of thought. You might know the terrain better than your readers, but the point is not to get them to admire your map: it is to help them see the landscape differently by the time they finish walking with you.
That, for me, is what this blog has always been about. The ideas explored here, whether they be about economics, politics, democracy, care, or hope, are all walks through difficult country. They often demand patience, honesty, and a willingness to pause and look around. But I write these posts because I think they are walks worth taking.
So when you next write, or comment, remember: every idea needs to put one foot in front of the other. Take your reader somewhere. Show them why the journey matters, even in a short comment on this blog. That, after all, is how understanding moves forward, one thoughtful step at a time.
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Walks are an important part of processing my thoughts. Though solitude is also an element at play. I walk alone. I don’t listen to music or podcast or anything. Just my own thoughts with no distractions. It is one of the greatest freedoms.
I agree with you .
But I think you need to take people on a walk about public spending.
All the politicians seem to be saying that public spending should be cut.
This despite universal agreement that public investment is a good thing and public services need to be improved.
One of the reasons public investment has ended badly is the desire to hand over control and responsibility to the private sector. That hasn’t worked well. But the public sector has lost capacity to build things themselves. (in the UK).
Similarly short term cuts to budgets can always be imposed but if it stores up problems. builds in blockages and pinch points to efficient delivery then that doesn’t work in the long term.
The desire to cut spending is purely to help justify tax cuts. But while the UK has one of the highest level of indirect tax regimes it has relatively low levels of income tax. A better mix is what’s called for.
Plus capital spending needs to be split in peoples minds from revenue spending and cash spending. The government and Treasury say they do it but constantly muddle the three concepts into a vague spending category.
There is no good reason why investment in profitable or net benefit schemes should be limited.
Similarly accounting needs to be improved to properly match investment with benefits . Too much investment in young people and health services is front loaded and should more accurately be amortized over lifetimes.
Cash limits are preventing investment in life lengthening (and improving) prevention and treatment.
I’m tired of politicians constantly bleating about the need to cut public spending when all the evidence is that the private sector are misapplying resources (AI,Offshoring and creation of unemployment) and bidding up asset prices (land, housing, and shares) by creating shortages and indulging in share buy backs.
I’m sure you will have covered these issues but a focus on why politicians are in a muddle about spending may help us all.
All noted, thanks
I forwarded this post to my wife who is a creative writer and writing teacher. She would never be inclined to read one of your posts on the economy but this one on writing she will, I am betting.
I am will be curious as to feedback.
As I learned from Lord Walter Citrine’s book “ABC of Chairmanship” when a young apprentice, some seventy years ago, the way to address a meeting was to tell’em what you’re going to tell’em, then tell’em, and then tell’em what you just told’em.
And it worked for me.
Could the youtube link be the exact link to the post at taxresearch.org.uk
TRANSCRIPT
A transcript for this video is available at: https://www.taxresearch.org.uk
eg
TRANSCRIPT
A transcript for this video is available at: https://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2025/11/13/taking-ideas-for-a-walk/
People coming across the you tube video a couple of weeks or a month later may have difficulty finding the exact post (and useful comments 🙂 as sometimes the title may be a little different or though the date should be the same.
Agreed
Sometimes we remember
And sometimes we don’t