The beginner and the expert

“In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s there are few.”
– Shunryo Suzuki, "Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

This is one of those observations that has been borne out by research. The expert works by classifying problems and choosing the solution that fits that problem. Meanwhile, the beginner is weighing the infinite actions they can take or they jump in and risk doing something horribly wrong.

We think the expert is running calculations in their head like one of those math overlay memes, but it’s actually the beginner who is calculating. The expert classifies and reacts.

The Beginning Writer

For the beginning writer it feels like their story can go anywhere. Meanwhile, the expert writer examines the story’s premise, sees the inherent problems with that premise, and knows what needs to be written.

And that’s why I try to read good writing and question the strategic choices that have been made. I’m trying to get closer to that expert’s mind.

But Suzuki’s quote above also reminds me that there’s a benefit to the beginner’s mind. The expert has stopped searching for novel solutions. The beginner can stumble into something new. One mindset is not inherently better than the other.

Since I am a beginner at writing, I try to remember that, while I’m working to become an expert, I also have the benefit of being a beginner. I get to make mistakes as I try new things that the expert would have dismissed outright. I get to discover things no one ever imagined would work.