Practice Blog

Perhaps a better question than “why write?” is to ask what mankind would be like without the existence of writing. It is clear that our ability to write separates us from all other species on earth, providing us with an added plane of communication beyond speech, sound, or movement. The development of writing is one important characteristic distinguishing civilized society from uncivilized society. The use of the written word has not only served as a basic method of reaching across space but has also historically functioned as a means of archiving human history to share across time. For example, archeologists of today are able to learn about life in ancient Egypt by referring to the hieroglyphs found in ancient tombs.

The act of writing allows us to articulate our inner ideas and feelings and to apply our creative instincts. It lets us order and visualize our thoughts and express them in our own individual and unique ways. The use of various forms of writing, such as poetry, drama, and fiction, furnishes us with the means to reflect upon our own lives and to place the world in which we live in perspective. Writing additionally enables men to not only record the newest discoveries in such fields as science and medicine but to also share the important truths that remain constant over time.

On a more practical level, the ability to write is an essential skill necessary for survival in the everyday world, whether employed in a job, to keep in touch with others socially, or to serve as a means for ongoing dialogue. Although modern technology has streamlined the actual writing process, the importance of being able to write well remains central to twenty-first century life. Certainly, no other form of communication provides man with such a unique opportunity to explore uncharted thoughts and, in the very process, discover new ways of thinking.