Writing Is Social

Writing is inherently social.

It was invented 5000 years ago not only to record thoughts and ideas, but also to communicate them to others. It allowed us to thrive as a species by passing down knowledge over generations.

The romantic conception of the writer alone with his genius is more recent. Sure, the craft feels lonely and you’re the one putting in most of the work, but it’s underestimating the collaborative essence of writing. There is a reason why writers have a special relationship with coffee shops, or why most books have an “Acknowledgement” section.

Even something as solitary as journaling can have a profound impact on how you behave with others, because of its therapeutic effects. Emotions change how we interact with the world.

At the core, even if we write for ourselves, writing is meant for others. This is why publishing your work on a regular basis to receive feedback, out of deliberate practice, is primordial. A novice writer—no matter how good his prose is—is easily recognized by an absence of (self-)published work.

If you are serious about writing, it is fundamental to understand its societal aspect. How good writing impacts others and how it helps shape lives.