Writing is a recent technology

A reminder why writing is unnatural to us

Even though it’s now pretty much expected from everyone to be literate, the act of writing is not inherent. Writing is not natural: it’s an invention, a technology developed roughly 3000 years ago. This is nothing compared to human history. So writing is a very recent technology that spread very quickly.

Now that I reminded you of this, your new mindset towards writing should start taking shape: writing is a technology that should be learned and improved on. It’s very similar, or might be even identical, to writing code, or designing a building, or doing any technical task, because it is technical. Sure, writing can be beautiful, rhythmic, and emotional, but who said that technology can’t be any of these?

So here’s the takeaway: you shouldn’t take your lack of writing skills as an inherent shortcoming. If you think you’re an average writer, it’s simply because you didn’t learn how to write well. And if you think you’re a good writer, if you haven’t before questioned your writing abilities, or if you approach writing as something you’re good at, then I advise you to reconsider this belief, because the ease of putting words on paper can trick you into thinking you don’t need to improve. And guess what, everyone needs to improve on their writing.

If I told you there were knowledge workers who reached the apex of knowledge to the degree they shouldn’t waste their time honing their technical skills, you’d scoff at me, right? This statement would be highly controversial, if not downright absurd. Same applies to writing: it’s a technology, an invention, a skill that we need to constantly improve on. You’re never a good writer if you stop learning.

So treating writing as what it really is, a technology, would eliminate something that prevents you from becoming a great writer: it’d eliminate your amateur attitude towards writing. You’ll give the act of writing the respect it deserves, like you do with any other technical task.