Why Everyone Should Write

Back in high school, the 5-paragraph essay was about as common as a bad acne day. After four years, I think everyone knew the formula for an essay that would satisfy an English teacher better than they knew formulas to appease a math professor.

Yet for most of us, our writing frequency has sizzled out as we’ve grown up. We’ve even started sending voice memos instead of texts to tell a story.

I am deciding to rekindle my writing habit. That doesn’t mean more 5-paragraph essays — those are fairly boring and restrictive. It does mean a more consistent practice of reflecting, practicing, and creating that I hope will bring clarity to my thoughts, improvements to my life, and a sense of appreciation for the written word.

Here are 3 reasons why you should write.

Reason #1: Writing Tells You What You Think

When you put something on paper, it’s harder to ignore how half-developed it is. There’s been so many times where I’ve said an opinion to myself in my head, agreed with it without any real scrutiny, then passed it off to go think about something else. Think, agree, boom — gone into the ether. Easy never to bring up again.

But if it’s written down on paper or on screen, right in front of me? Now it can’t just fly away. Now I’m forced to contend with this thought. Do I really agree with it? What does it even mean?

Most thoughts are just thoughts, and can be ignored. But some, perhaps the ones we most easily agree with or dismiss outright, deserve some reflection. Especially if they revolve around important aspects of our lives.

Reason #2: Writing Makes Other Things Better

Chances are, your day mostly consists of something that’s not writing. But writing is pervasive, because writing is really communicating. And we do a whole lot of that most of the time.

Since writing tells you what you really think, won’t that clear up your communication? How about your decision making? The benefits of writing do not disappear once the pen stops moving. The product of your writing habit is how you go about your day — pitching ideas, having conversations, answering emails.

Reason #3: Writing Makes You Appreciate Good Writing

Writing is one of those skills that has a low barrier to entry. Anyone can write, no fancy equipment or certification required. However, like most things, writing is harder than it looks. Many can do it, but few can master it. It takes about 3 minutes in Google Docs for that “Oh crap” feeling to set in, signaling that maybe you actually don’t (yet) have it in you to become James Patterson.

Rather than letting this frustrate you, realize that this is how everyone started. If you want to get better, go into your writing sessions with a mindset of Deliberate Practice. If you’re writing just for fun, don’t stress over details. Write for your own enjoyment, not the approval of a hypothetical audience.

For those of us who love to read, attempting to write will only add to our enjoyment of a great book. Comparison is not always the thief of joy, for when we compare the prose of a great author to our jumbled mess, we feel grateful for the ability to enjoy the greatness of others.

Some reasons for writing might appeal to you more than others. You shouldn’t feel forced to write just to cultivate a new skill or gain some sort of insight. Whatever your current goals are, find a way for writing to support them. For you, that may mean journaling. It could also mean storytelling. It could even mean pulling out that trusty 5-paragrapher.

There’s no right way to write. Just start writing.