Why Should You Write

Summary

Writing serves as a crucial tool for personal expression, life documentation, and sharing experiences, accessible to all and beneficial for self-reflection and potentially influencing others.

Abstract

Writing is an ancient form of communication that has evolved from oral storytelling to the written word, allowing for the preservation of culture and personal narratives. The art of writing, once limited to a select few, is now a skill that almost anyone can develop. It is not necessary to be a professional author or journalist to be considered a writer; anyone who documents their experiences is contributing value. Writing is a means of self-reflection and can also resonate with others when shared. It is recommended to start by writing about passions, frustrations, or topics of interest with honesty, as personal stories are unique and have the power to connect with readers. While writing for an audience can be important for success, writing for oneself helps to develop a personal voice and can be more fulfilling. Every personal story has the potential to impact someone, emphasizing the importance of writing in maintaining life's richness.

Opinions

Writing is seen as a form of resistance or social commentary, as exemplified by George Orwell's approach.
Honesty in writing is paramount; AI-generated content lacks the authenticity that only a human writer can provide.
Each individual's story is unique and valuable, and only they can tell it best.
Writing for personal pleasure is encouraged before considering the expectations of an audience.
Personal stories can be as educational and impactful as academic writing.
There is an audience for every personal story, reinforcing the idea that everyone's experiences are worth sharing.

The necessity of writing to maintain life

Writing is one of the oldest methods of expressing your thoughts and ideas. Long before movies, radio, podcasts, and of course TikTok (or multiple other forms of entertainment and self-expression), there was simple storytelling. Stories shared by people and for people. Various traditions, ideas, and aspects of cultures remain through storytelling in human minds.

With the introduction of different scripts and later on, even printing possibilities, the art of writing was born. Finally, the stories could be put into a more reliable vessel; one that would remain for hopefully multiple generations.

Unfortunately, for a long while it was only accessible to certain types of people. But now, almost everyone can learn to write and eventually become a writer. I am not talking about a published author per se or a world-known journalist. But just a writer. Someone who writes and shares his experience (with the world or just himself). Because, in my opinion, that is equally important.

Through writing, we are documenting our lives. And I believe that every life story is worth telling. In the first place, writing mostly benefits the writer by helping him to reflect on his life, but it can also transform this personal value into something more and touch other people (if you decide to share your writing with others).

So where do you start?

I would suggest to write about the things you love and spend most of your time doing. Or the things that make you angry, situations you would like to change, or policies with which you disagree. That’s how George Orwell experienced writing; a form of resistance or social commentary. But most importantly: be honest in your writing. Write what you know is the most valuable advice that I could find so far in the multiple writing advice books by famous writers.

Yes, I know. It sounds vague and at first glance, it is exactly that. But when you think about it, it does make sense. Most people feel betrayed when they find out that the article they have read, was written by AI. Why? Because AI cannot be honest, it is not able to express its real thoughts. There is no human mind behind it, so the text falls flat and feels empty.

Only you can tell your own story. And no one could do it better. So, write what you know: experiences, memories, dreams, or just subjects that you are enthusiastic about. Also, write for yourself in the first place. Only you have to like your own stories.

In academic writing, you have to know your audience and change your text according to the reader. If you would like to make a reasonable income with your writing, you probably have to do that too. Tailoring the text to the people who would probably read it, anticipate what the reader wants and needs. Nothing wrong with that. However, I find that writing for just the pleasure of writing (the same as reading what you want to read instead of academic/school reading) is more comfortable at the beginning of your writing journey. It helps you find your own voice before you start thinking about what other people want to hear.

Besides, I think that for every personal story that you write, there is someone out there who would enjoy reading it. Sometimes, personal stories from others end up being the ones that would teach us the most in life.

Pick up your pen or start typing your story. It is never too late to start and everyone has a story to tell.