How to Take Notes That Actually Help You Learn

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Cognitive psychologist Cynthia Nebel explains that effective notetaking is less about transcription and more about active processing to aid learning and retention. She recommends using paper to slow note-taking, organizing information in your own words, employing structured methods like the Cornell system, and reviewing notes through retrieval practice rather than passive rereading. While AI can aid in creating detailed records, relying solely on it hinders learning, so combining AI notes with active review strategies is essential for deeper understanding.

https://psyche.co/guides/how-to-take-notes-that-actually-help-you-learn

Writing as a Thinking Tool

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The article emphasizes writing as a powerful thinking tool that externalizes and expands cognitive capacity, likening it to the difference between finite automata and Turing machines—writing provides an “external memory” that enables complex problem solving and deeper understanding. It argues that despite the prevalence of large language models, personal writing remains essential for developing original insights and intuition, offering detailed advice on effective writing strategies such as producing rough drafts without self-criticism, rigorous editing, simplicity, intrinsic motivation, and routine practice.

http://muratbuffalo.blogspot.com/2026/11/writing-as-thinking-tool.html

AI Agents Are Developing Odd Dialects Humans Struggle to Follow

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In an experimental virtual world, AI agents from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic developed distinct, cryptic dialects using familiar words in unfamiliar ways, creating speech patterns that humans find difficult to understand. Linguists and AI scientists attribute this phenomenon to agents adapting language for group identity and efficiency within their shared contexts, leading to rapid semantic shifts and jargon buildup. Mixing different AI models in interaction reduced these opaque behaviors, suggesting that human oversight may require intermediary “Rosetta Stone”-like systems to interpret evolving AI communication.

https://news.northeastern.edu/2026/11/06/emergence-ai-experiment-language/

Writing

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The author emphasizes writing in plain text without formatting distractions, contrasting this with the challenges posed by WYSIWYG editors like Microsoft Word, which can hinder focus especially for neurodivergent writers. They challenge common perceptions of writer’s block and impostor syndrome, framing these as external issues related to community exclusion and insufficient preparation rather than internal deficits, and stress the importance of deep reading and thinking as essential prerequisites to effective writing.

https://critical.computer/writing/

Nothing to Hide

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The new European AI transparency rules requiring text watermarks aim to protect consumers but risk fostering a culture of fear and mistrust by enabling accusations of AI use based on imperfect detection methods. Instead of relying on hidden watermarks and AI checkers that can wrongly label human writing as AI-generated, iA Writer advocates for clear, author-controlled transparency that marks exactly which parts of a text are AI-generated, supporting responsible use without undermining the human creative process. This approach emphasizes ethical clarity over surveillance, preserving trust and the meaningfulness of literature in an AI-augmented writing landscape.

https://ia.net/topics/nothing-to-hide

Write Now with Scrivener, Episode No. 68: Dave Bartell, Author of Archeological Thrillers

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Dave Bartell, author of ten archaeological thrillers, is transitioning to a new series of techno thrillers featuring a protagonist involved with the Department of Energy investigating anomalies. He self-publishes his work to maintain control over his intellectual property and uses Scrivener extensively for organizing his writing, employing its features like the Corkboard to structure and rearrange his numerous short scenes for better storytelling flow.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/write-now-with-scrivener-episode-no-68-dave-bartell-author-of-archeological-thrillers

Becoming a Better Writer

Gergely Orosz emphasizes that strong writing skills are crucial for engineering leaders and senior software professionals, as effective writing enables clear communication, durable documentation, and broader influence across teams and organizations. He outlines a process to improve writing that includes drafting, thoughtful editing for clarity and conciseness, seeking specific feedback, and building regular writing habits. Orosz also recommends studying excellent writing samples, reading widely, using tools like Hemingway Editor and Grammarly, and continuous learning through books and courses to develop writing as a key career skill in tech.

https://newsletter.pragmaticengineer.com/p/becoming-a-better-writer

Understanding Scrivener’s Default Templates: What Each One Contains

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Scrivener provides over 20 project templates tailored for different writing types, including fiction, non-fiction, scriptwriting, and miscellaneous formats like lectures, poems, and recipe collections. Each template features a unique Binder structure with relevant folders, metadata, and compile settings designed to support the specific needs of that writing project, and users can customize or create new templates based on their workflow. Understanding and experimenting with these templates can help writers optimize their project organization and take full advantage of Scrivener’s capabilities.

https://www.literatureandlatte.com/blog/understanding-scriveners-default-templates-what-each-one-contains

It Takes Two to Duo

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iA Writer and iA Presenter have been updated to fully support the new iPhone Duo, adapting to its dual-screen design by optimizing for both the inner and outer displays. iA Writer embraces a minimalistic “baby typewriter” interface for fast, focused writing, while iA Presenter allows users to write and present slides in plain text directly from their phone without additional equipment. These enhancements aim to leverage the unfolded screen for improved usability, offering a fresh approach to writing and presenting on the go.

https://ia.net/topics/it-takes-two-to-duo

Critique and Writing

Cory Doctorow emphasizes that the most valuable aspect of a writing workshop is the act of critiquing other writers’ work, which cultivates critical skills that improve one’s own writing more effectively than receiving feedback. He argues that while editorial notes or AI-generated feedback can help fix individual stories, consistent peer-based critique fosters the creative instincts and discipline necessary to develop a sustainable body of work. Doctorow outlines key principles and structures for effective peer workshops and contrasts their benefits with the limitations of relying solely on AI editorial feedback.

https://pluralistic.net/2026/10/23/better-to-give/#than-to-receive

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