1. Writing provides a release for our persistent stream of thoughts.
The problem with being someone who never stops thinking is that my mouth can never catch up to my brain’s constant commotion. I’m currently taking a philosophy class, and while I speak up now and then to contribute to class discussion, I take an average of 3 pages of handwritten notes per class. These notes are filled with arrows and diagrams, lines crossed out, and half-sentences in the margins. As writers, we tend to think a lot, and if we said everything that came to mind we would talk ourselves into oblivion.
2. It takes a while for our thoughts to become coherent; writing gives us that time.
I can’t tell you how many times I have started a sentence and halfway through realized I don’t actually know what I’m trying to say. When writing, I can outline, draft, cross-out, type, delete, research, rewrite, get a second opinion, copy and paste, change paragraph order, and come up with something that makes my ideas logical and communicable. I can't do that when talking.
3. When we write, people are more likely to believe us.
I, personally, am someone who is very passionate about politics and the current injustices in our world. As a middle class, 19-year old, white girl, I can say all the facts I manage to remember, and it won't be enough for some to believe I know what I’m talking about. Not everyone is a non-believer of course, but the number of people who do not trust that my beliefs are backed by research is still large enough that it’s challenging to feel heard. If I want to be persuasive in my arguments, I need to read, learn, write and CITE as much as possible. Hopefully, my credibly will increase as I attain higher levels of education, but for right now writing is the easiest way for me to clearly display that I am educated on the issues I am arguing and not just regurgitating what I read on twitter. People who care about writing often also care about backing their writing with research to give themselves credibility. There are no footnotes when giving a speech.
4. Writing makes us feel like we're making a difference.
When people "like", share, and comment on my articles and posts, I feel like I have provided someone with means of further discovering something about themselves. Whether they see themselves in me or disagree with every point I make, they have learned something about their beliefs by reading what I wrote. Providing the writing that leads to a path of personal growth is something that many of my fellow authors and I think is valuable.
5. Writing is therapy, a hobby, and a potential career all in one.
It sounds silly, but writing something I am good at. It provides me with a sense of satisfaction. When I can display my thoughts on paper (or in an online article) and watch people respond, it is a gratifying feeling. Writing is permanent; when using the internet, we’re taught that “once you put it out there, you can never take it back.” My writing catalogs my thoughts and feelings and enables me to see how I grow and mature over time. It helps me and writers everywhere to learn and grow. As writers, there is no telling what bounds we are able to break with our writing skills, but we are determined to find out.
