Jus(tine*)*tine+(tine*)* Frank Jul 2
the more i try to write this paper the less i feel like it deserves to be one
Show threadJus(tine*)*tine+(tine*)* Frank Jul 2
when i start to write it down it just all feels so obvious it hardly is worth saying
Show threadJus(tine*)*tine+(tine*)* Frank 
to the right person with exactly the right background knowledge, i think what i have done could be mostly conveyed in a few sentences
Jul 2 at 4:29amWeb
Show threadEmily FoxJul 2
@justinfrank I was at a workshop when somebody asked me how to do a thing with graphs. I made up a quick solution on the spot based on intuition Iā€™d built up over my PhD. Then asked around because obviously the other experts here know how to do this, right?

Ended up writing a STOC paper.
Show threadpaulette d. koronkevichJul 2
@justinfrank I feel this. do you want to hear about my most recent writing process? it may be a helpful mind shift but I don't want to give unsolicited stories, and I am truly sorry you're feeling like your contribution isn't worth a paper. I believe it is šŸ’žšŸ™
Show threadJus(tine*)*tine+(tine*)* Frank Jul 2
@koronkebitch i would love to hear it!
Show threadpaulette d. koronkevichJul 2

@justinfrank my primary motivation was writing for myself in the past, what do I wish I could have read when I started the project. in retrospect many things are obvious /after/ you learn the thing, but what wasn't? in that way, the material being obvious is actually the goal.

(personally I don't like the idea of research having to be Big And Impressive to be worthy)

you could argue that there might be plenty of materials already that explain the background, but think about the numerous different topics and courses you've taken. there have certainly been materials that make more sense based on the way a professor presents it, based on the way the text explains it, based on the examples used, and so on. but you have a unique perspective worth sharing, with the cherry on top of having this perspective allowed you to make a contribution, no matter how small you might assume it is.

this helped me a lot, but it may have only worked for me because it appealed to my teaching side. I like the puzzle of figuring out how to explain The Thing in a new intuitive way.