I have a half-baked thought about the similarities and contrasts between Kaladin and Szeth, and how that’s reflected in the way they use and think of their powers.
On one hand, Kaladin comes into his powers without really understanding what’s going on. He learns his abilities largely by instinct, and doesn’t make significant progress with fully using them consciously until he sees what Szeth can do.
On the other hand, Szeth spent years training with the Honorblades and gaining (presumably) at least a passing familiarity with all ten Surges. I headcanon that he was given Jezrien’s Honorblade (the Blade of the Windrunners) because that was one of the ones he wielded the best.
While Kaladin learned his abilities almost entirely through instinct, trial and error, and Syl’s extremely fragmented memories, Szeth learned his through diligent training and years of instruction.
I think that difference in background is shown a lot through each character’s narration. Each of them have moments of technical explanation, which are really ways of showing how the magic system actually works. What I find interesting is that most of that explanation is done through Szeth’s point of view, while Kaladin is left to figure it out more organically.
I think both methods are good and each have their strengths and weaknesses. It’s just fascinating that they’re explored in such different ways and through the eyes of very different characters and in such contrasted settings/situations.
Even after Kaladin figures out his abilities more and becomes more confident with them, Szeth’s internal relation to and explanation of his own are still generally more technical. Kaladin tends to rely on instinct (especially early on), while Szeth consistently relies on his training.
Keep in mind that I’m focusing on their approaches to Surgebinding, not the other aspects of fighting each of them were trained in in the past.
Again, I think a large part of this is related to their different backgrounds, but it might also be related to their personalities/how they relate to their powers overall, backgrounds aside.
I want to expand on this more at some point, but I think that’ll have to be done at another time.
Tldr: Szeth tends to think of his Surgebinding more technically, while Kaladin tends to think of his more instinctively. There are exceptions in both cases, but going into that here would take more effort than I wanted to put into this post
