imagine you do not start with a clean sheet imagine you start with some friendly genie or well-paid personal assistant. prepared a rough draft of your paper for you. it is already a fully developed argument including all references, and some smart ideas the only thing that is left to do is revise this rough draft and send it off. if there is one thing the experts agree on, then it is this you have to exercise your ideas you have to write. if we write it is more likely that we understand what we read and remember what we learn and that our thoughts make sense. and if we have to write anyway why not use our writing to build up resources for our future publications.