Are you a better writer or speaker?
I like to ask people this question if we're just sitting around talking about nothing in particular. It's always interesting to hear everyone's answers, especially if they qualify them -- if they think they're MUCH better at one than the other -- and if they explain why they think this is the case. Most people say they're far better writers than speakers.
For my part, I think I'm a MUCH better speaker than I am a writer. I wonder how sending a speaking sample instead of a writing sample would go over?
So how about you? What are you better at, writing or speaking? Hey, and if you've read my academic writing and heard me give a talk, you're welcome to express your agreement or disagreement with my assessment.
Comments
That's really interesting.
That's really interesting. For years I would have said writer, absolutely, by a long shot, but now I think I am probably almost as good a speaker -- if I am properly prepared. This could be something I would have learned to get around with more practice -- I write much more than I give talks, and people I know who give a lot of talks became great at it even with little preparation -- but it didn't happen.
I would also suspect that most people I know would say "writer" -- but I know mostly people who are introverted and write a lot. Have you asked this of many non-academics or extraverts?
wolfangel
Perhaps a better speaker
jmp
Geeky Mom I think I'm a
Geeky Mom
I think I'm a better speaker, but I also think I write a lot like I speak. I often have to work hard to make my writing sound more writerly--depending on the forum, of course.
Depends...
I'm a lot better at anything that involves spontaneity (interview or conservation / dashing off 100-200 words for a blog post), and too unfocused or nervous for planned things (public speech / research paper).
For years I would have said
For years I would have said writer in a heartbeat, but that's perhaps partly because of the context in which I was writing....now that I'm in academia, where (in theory, at least) everyone knows how to write properly, but an amazing number of people can't present their way out of a paper bag, I might say speaker. It would probably depend on the situation.
Asking nonacademics
Wolfangel, you asked: "Have you asked this of many non-academics or extraverts?"
No, I haven't, but now I'm terribly curious to see if there's a difference. I'm going to go ahead and bet that more people are still going to say they're better writers. I think most people underestimate their speaking ability.
I'm a much better speaker.
I'm a much better speaker. I'm not a bad writer, just a very very slow writer. I'm not an academic really. I love speaking in front of crowds or just to small groups. In high school I did debate and impromptu speaking.
Sometimes I speak into a voice to text program to write faster. My speaking voice is diferent than my writing style but I just edit later.
Better writer
Among other reasons, the act of writing gives me more time to organize my thoughts.