Anyone who read my blog on the Mathematician Conspiracy will look at that title and feel the urge to get their vision checked.  But as I was solving equations today I noticed that following algebraic steps and carefully simplifying a problem is a lot like editing and rewriting a story. 

You start with the core plot issues and characters’ traits, then trace those through the story to make sure you’ve kept them consistent and addressed them in each scene.  You also need to get the story into its most simple form that will still communicate the tale.  It’s all very nitty-gritty and detail oriented, but in the long run it pays off in a better contructed story with internal consistancy.

It’s just like math.  So now I have finally found a real-life application for the math skills my teachers have been urging on me all these years.  Too bad this shall be the last math class I ever take.

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