Why Does Writing Matter Anyway? | 3 Solid Reasons Writing is Vitally Important for the World
Why Writing Matters
Writing is an effective form of communication, especially fiction writing. Even though fiction writing would seem like a less effective way of communication than a business letter, one paragraph of fiction can oftentimes hold more truth than an entire 800-page dissertation. Fiction writing is a method of connecting people to those long gone before us, to times forever passed, to places we will never experience. Can you imagine a world in which there were no stories? I think it would be quite impossible for the human race to survive without stories, real or fictional. Writers have a far more important job than they could ever imagine.
“A book is made from a tree. It is an assemblage of flat, flexible parts (still called ‘leaves’) imprinted with dark pigmented squiggles. One glance at it and you hear the voice of another person, perhaps someone dead for thousands of years. Across the millenia, the author is speaking, clearly and silently, inside your head, directly to you. Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people, citizens of distant epochs who never knew one another.” – Carl Sagan
As a child, I read hundreds of books. The authors of those books had no idea that their work would leave an impression on me, no idea that they would fill me with inspiration, entertain me for hours on end, give me hope, empathy, new perspectives, and a burning desire to write stories of my own. I can hardly imagine a childhood without some of my very favorite books. You, as a writer, have the power to create stories that will offer future generations that same connection with your stories as I had with some of my favourites. You have no idea who you may make an impression on with your stories, that is why it is so important for you to persevere and get them out into the world.
Storytelling is part of what it means to be human
Stories have been told since the beginning of humanity, they have become part of what it means to be human. Even if a person isn’t a writer, they still tell stories. I am certain that you, within your lifetime, have already told thousands of stories. Every person tells stories every single day. When you describe your trip home from school or work, when you tell someone about your experience at a certain restaurant, or relay your favorite part of a trip you had years ago. Every time you describe a life experience or talk about a place you saw or want to visit, you are telling a story.
A writer is simply a person who takes it upon themselves to write down the stories that are in their hearts. To describe the characters they imagine, to show the scenes they can only see in their mind’s eye, to share their passion, emotions, and imaginings with readers.
Writing is so important for both the reader and the writer.
Writing is about using your authentic voice. Giving people something new to think about. Helping people see something from a new perspective like the book by Eoin Dempsey called White Rose, Black Forest. He gives his readers a look into the life of a young German woman living in a Nazi infested country. She sees the Nazis flaws, but it seems that hardly any else around her does. This story shares an example of the experiences that some Germans living during the second world war had, those who were not brainwashed, but were silenced all the same. To speak out for what they believed would be to sign their own death warrants. This story, using real people’s real experiences, proves that not all Germans during the war were Nazis. It gives a person a new perspective on what life was really like for many Germans during that time. That is the power that writing holds.
What writing really means to people
In conclusion, writing is about leaving a legacy, about making an impact in someone’s life without even knowing it. Writing is about connection and humanity. It is a way for writers to express themselves; an outlet for their thoughts, ideas, and emotions and a way for readers to gain new perspectives and experience far away times and places.
Writing means something slightly different to everyone. For me, it was an outlet, a method of releasing my thoughts and getting my ideas on paper. You can read more about that here if you are interested. What does writing mean to you? What would it feel like to never be allowed to write again?
