On the other hand: I'm a full-time author, but not because I feel any sort of compulsion to write. Writing books just happens to be one of the best ways to turn what I do feel compelled to do (reading/research) into something that benefits other people, and allows me to use what I'm good at doing in a way that supports my family.
Left to my own devices, I wouldn't write very much at all aside from note-taking. Turning random thoughts into readable long-form prose requires a ton of effort. It's worth it, but the work is difficult on the best of days.
I agree that blog posts, short essays, or private journaling are better tools for using writing for thinking. You don't have to worry so much about structure or the potential for misinterpretation, and most topics don't require hundreds of pages to explore.
Left to my own devices, I wouldn't write very much at all aside from note-taking. Turning random thoughts into readable long-form prose requires a ton of effort. It's worth it, but the work is difficult on the best of days.
I agree that blog posts, short essays, or private journaling are better tools for using writing for thinking. You don't have to worry so much about structure or the potential for misinterpretation, and most topics don't require hundreds of pages to explore.