Does Writing Even Matter Anymore?

Everyday there are news stories about technology.

Statistics about how much time kids spend on screens. How much time parents spend on their phones. How much time social media "steals” from us. How technology, our phones, videos, podcasts, etc… are the new future.

I don’t want to get into the argument about whether technology is good or bad. Everything has two sides and can be taken to extremes.

So with our ever shrinking attention spans, does writing matter?

I’m going to argue that yes it does. And it always will.

When you think about how humans communicate, writing is just one of those forms.

So will writing die? No.

Writing is essential when mapping out a video script, formulating ideas, passing notes when you have no battery life. Writing, pen to paper, can also force more creativity since it is harder to edit immediately.

Your writing is often your first impression. Especially in a digital world.

Blogs, emails, text messages, Facebook ads, dating profiles are all populated with written words. They also give your reader an impression about you. Your intelligence, attention to detail, creativity and more can all be judged.

I’m not arguing that you have to have perfect grammar or write in a formal tone. In fact, I tend to write in very conversational tones because it feels more relatable. And I continue to make mistakes. I will even purposefully misspell words if it communicates an idea clearly.

Rather, I’m arguing that spelling and clear communication matters.

If you want to share your ideas, others need to be able to comprehend what you’re writing to make their judgements.

A glaring misspelling can mean that a potential audience member discredits you and your ideas. Even if you’re a YouTube star and rarely write any content. A misspelled word in your video title can hurt your chances of building an audience. So yes it matters.

And if you’re in the tech industry don’t forget to simplify your complicated ideas for the average consumer.

For all these reasons writing and writers matter.

It may be an "old” art form, but it is not going anywhere anytime soon. And I think we all understand that.

So if you have a message to share and struggle to communicate your ideas don’t you think it’s time to hire a writer to help?

I do.