Today is “Writing Appreciation Day.”
No matter the date, in my book, every day is an opportunity to appreciate our ancestors who invented writing (so different than the earlier invention of spoken language), which defines everything from a civilization to a culture to an individual.
Let’s look for a moment at what happened to writing in the 23rd century BC, because of one woman, Enheduanna—so transformational that we now take for granted that this is the only way to think about and practice writing (but it was not that way for thousands of years prior to this High Priestess’ innovative approach).
Also, I’ll give you 5 brilliant reasons that you should adopt the habit of writing every day—even if you are “not a writer,” are way too busy, and are sure you have nothing of import to write about.
“Over five thousand years ago, people living in a part of Mesopotamia [now Iraq] started to keep records with cuneiform, the oldest known system of writing. And roughly a millennium after cuneiform emerged, a priestess named Enheduanna began using this writing system in a new way. Her unique texts are the earliest known example of first-person writing, and she may be the first known writer to claim authorship of her work.” [From an online article by Becky Little on www.history.com.]
This image shows what cuneiform writing looks like. And yes, there are experts today who can translate it.
So Enheduanna literally invented the concept “author.” Before her, cuneiform writing told its story, but no “author” was acknowledged for a particular piece.
More than enjoying this tidbit of history, let’s rise to the occasion of celebrating this extraordinary woman. Just the fact that she was writing on tablets is unique for a woman in her era. In fact, after the rediscovery of her work in 1927, male European scholars were slow to recognize her as the author of her writing, in part because many did not associate literacy with women during this period.
Because, you see, literacy was (and still is) a privilege.
It’s a privilege most often denied to women. It may seem “foreign,” but it’s currently happening, right now, in other parts of the world. In Guinea, most women (ages 25 and above) have attended school for less than one year. And 73% of girls in South Sudan do not go to primary school. And then there’s Afghanistan, where girls are prohibited from attending school.
In our own American history, we learn that slaves were not allowed to learn to read and write. You’re reading this article and good for you. I hope you find value not only in this, but in many, many more words you’ll read today. Be grateful for how free and able you are to do so. And here’s something else to have much gratitude for—the people who wrote the words for you to consume.
I would love to read something you have written or will write. But even if you don’t want to share your writing with anyone, it’s worth your time to write every day. Here are a few of the many reasons why:
- Intentional living— Writing every day can be a discipline (not the kind that’s a chore) that you choose, which is a proactive healthy habit. Multiple scientific studies have found that doing creative things every day can make you happier. There are endless ways to be creative, but writing is one of the easiest things you can do on a regular basis, since all you need is a pen (or keyboard).
- Clarity of ideas—Writing is a thought-jogging process. You’ll find that while honing in on what you mean to say, you will gain ground and have much greater clarity on any glimmer of an idea you started with. Writing clarifies your thinking. It causes your mind to stop swirling and articulate what’s going on.
- It unlocks your creativity—You may or may not have an idea of what you are about to write, and that’s okay. The flow of ideas from your mind to your hands often starts slowly and builds into an avalanche. With your pen or keyboard at hand, your brain is signaled to rev up, motivated by the fact that the ideas and wordsmithing and persuasive points will be captured vs. fleeting. Writing often takes you on an unexpected journey.
- Clearing and de-stressing—Once you’ve given a lifeform to your thoughts and ideas, you’ll discover how much your mind must have been working to keep them in its grasp…and suddenly you’ll feel like there’s a lot of space opened up for new ideas, questions, and solutions to nagging problems. In a therapeutic way, writing can bring you peace. Writing letters that communicate strong resentments or other emotions can be very healing (even though these letters are usually not sent).
- You’ll build skill and confidence—You’ll see your writing evolve and improve right before your eyes. Writing every day is a “practice,” and just like playing the piano or jogging every day, it gets easier and you get better at it. Writing is an essential and powerful skill in today’s world. Whether you’re trying to write blog posts, novels, poems, songs, your memoir, or just really compelling emails, you’ll see improvement if you do it every day.
The problem is that most people think writing is for, well, writers.
I urge everyone to give writing every day a try. If that seems too daunting, use these tips:
- Start with a small goal. For example, schedule an appointment with yourself for 10 minutes (or 100 words) to sit down and write (or stand up and write, like Ernest Hemingway!).
- If journaling (writing for yourself) is not appealing, come up with a purpose for your writing to be shared, such as a blog, poem, letter, or the beginnings of a book.
- If you get squeezed on time, do not skip writing! Simply write for a minute or two so that you can stay consistent and your brain gets trained to understand you will be writing every day (Stephen King strongly advises not to take weekends off.)
- Use prompts if you can’t think of what to write. There are lists of them online, or simply use a question, such as: If I had a grandchild who will read this long after I’m dead, what do I most want to tell them about my life? Or, What am I tolerating at work or home, big or little, that I wish I’d stop putting up with? Or, What song lyrics can I write to describe my feelings today?
- Extend your block of time a little each week until you know you’ve given yourself just the right amount of time to practice your writing, improve it, and discover its amazing rewards.
That’s all you need to get started.
One of the most instrumental changes in my life has been writing every single day. For years, I wanted to, but lacked enough intentionality. In 2017, I began writing every day and it’s been life-changing.
I recommend daily writing for anyone, not just writers. It’s healing, intelligence-building, improves relationships through communicating more clearly, and is stimulating in a profoundly creative way.
Picture yourself writing every day. Will it be first thing each morning? Will you use a favorite pen? Will you use a keyboard and type? Where will you be doing your writing that is free of distraction? Hold the image of you writing each day and start today!
