How I write my answers on StackExchange

In this post I have shared a bit about my process for crafting answers on StackExchange Electrical Engineering and the challenges I encounter.

The primary issue stems from my rather unconventional writing style. Instead of composing a complete response in one go, I tend to work in a rather chaotic manner, adding thoughts and ideas to a “skeleton" as they come to me. This approach is typical of a creative, inventive mind, a topic I have explored in more detail in How to extract and record new ideas.

To elaborate, my process usually unfolds as follows:

A question piques my interest and I am eager to provide an answer. I start by sketching out a basic outline using CircuitLab, serving as a framework for my response. I save this work in Google Docs, as I have found that StackExchange's autosave (backup) function is not entirely reliable.

I then switch to my phone, finding it more comfortable to write while relaxing in bed, at a park, or anywhere else. I let my thoughts flow freely, saving frequently as I go. Unfortunately, Chrome has a habit of refreshing unexpectedly, causing me to lose my work. As a result, I have had to resort to using the Samsung browser as a backup.

As I write, I often need to revise or add to my CircuitLab diagrams. This requires me to switch back to my computer, which can be disruptive if I am not at home. This back-and-forth process repeats multiple times.

Sometimes, I will get sidetracked by a particular aspect of the problem and pause my writing to delve deeper into the concept.

This iterative process often leads to a situation where I am completely absorbed in crafting my response, neglecting other tasks. Once I feel satisfied, I publish my answer. However, it is not uncommon for new ideas to pop into my head after publication, prompting me to make additional edits.