Millennial Writers: A Pivotal Writing Generation?

A Gen-Xer calls for a more eclectic writing community

I was writing on my laptop while Mia kept trying to nibble my fluttering fingers when it suddenly struck me.

It was a moment of clarity in which I realized how we were headed to a new permissionless writing landscape.

The world is changing. Life is changing. And one thing that’s definitely changing is the writer’s life.

Millennials are a generation often given short shrift, namely when compared to Gen Xers. I’m not a millennial, but I’m an avid reader of millennial authors, so I think it’s time to start taking them seriously.

Some of them are writing stories that explore complex themes and have a depth of characterization that makes them stand out from the crowd.

They’re writing about current issues from a unique perspective. They have a different way of looking at the world than previous generations did in the past. And that’s a good thing.

Yes, they are the generation that grew up with computers and all these new devices — that means they are saving more trees than any other generation of writers while taking a new stance within the writing community.

So, it’s important to remember that millennials are carving their name in the writing community.

In this article, I will argue that the millennial writer is changing how we think about our stories, how we tell them, and how we publish them.

The open access to writing

To be clear, this is not some grand revolution. No barricades are being erected or any pitchforks being brandished. But as a generation of writers, millennials are doing things differently, and I believe it’s essential to understand why.

Millennials aren’t exactly new to writing. They’ve been doing it since they were little kids, but now they’re getting older, and their writing is evolving into something more than just an activity for personal expression; millennials are writing professionally and putting themselves out there in a way that hasn’t happened before.

While some may argue that the internet has opened up opportunities for writers of all ages (which is true), millennials’ particular skillset lends itself well to the world of digital writing:

• They’re used to sharing their thoughts online;
• They’re comfortable expressing themselves through social media;
• Many already have experience working with images and video content;
• Most importantly, though — millennial writers value collaboration over competition — this means that when you work with them on your project, whether it’s a blog post or an entire novel manuscript — they won’t view you as “the competition.”

In other words: this is good news. The democratization of creative expression means we will finally break down barriers that have traditionally kept certain people from pursuing careers in creative fields because there wasn’t enough room for them at first (if ever).

Writing is no longer just for the elites

Writing is not what it once was, and this is a good thing. It’s now a more democratic process than ever before.

Just look at the numbers, and you’ll realize millennials write more than any other generation.

Not only are they writing more, but they’re also doing it in different ways and about various things than their predecessors did.

It’s not even a thing that only happens on paper anymore. It’s something that everyone does all the time, everywhere, and in every way imaginable.

You’re probably reading this on your phone right now. This serves to show how writing is also happening when you post a Twitter thread or post on Instagram about how much you love cold brew coffee.

Millennials are writing more than any other generation before them — and for a good reason. They are starting their own businesses at twice the rate of other generations and leading in entrepreneurship because they have access to all sorts of technology:

• Cloud storage platforms like Dropbox or Google Drive allow us to store files online so we can access them from anywhere without needing a computer or laptop until later when our parents will buy us one anyway;
• Mobile apps allow us to write blogs without needing expensive software.
• Wireless internet connection everywhere enables us to write our stories on the go.

Millennials have entirely changed the way we look at the writer’s life. In the past, writers were seen as people with an innate talent for telling stories and putting music into words. But nowadays, we know that writers come from all walks of life and that the stories we tell are more important than the storytellers themselves.

We now see writers not as isolated individuals who create stories in a vacuum but as part of a community that collaborates and shares ideas. As people who are constantly evolving and growing and who are continually striving to improve their craft.

As a result of this change in perspective, the new generations look at writing not as a solitary endeavor but as part of a construct shaped by a larger community of writers who are constantly sharing and collaborating on ideas. This has led to a new level of respect and appreciation for writers.

Millennials are out there writing

Many people think that millennials are the most entitled generation of writers. I’m afraid I have to disagree. Millennials are out there writing and doing it on a level that no other generation has done before them.

Millennials are writing in a whole new way. They’re using technology to get their ideas out there, and they’re using social media to connect with other people who share their interests, and they no longer need a lot of paper to do it.

This is an exciting time to be a writer. Millennials are shaping the future of writing, but they will not be doing it alone. They will be part of a chain that connects all of us together.

Although some people may think that the newer generations have ruined our perspective on writing, they’ve actually helped us to look at writing in a more positive and kaleidoscopic light.

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