Writing Skills
14/2/15
The thing I have noticed is that there is a much wider readership for anything written about writing than on any other topics I choose to write. This does not mean that there are no other popular topics, such as, say current politics or gossip relating to celebrities, but I don’t and don’t choose to write on such topics. Getting back to viewership of blog notes, I think writing gets read because many of the readers are writers who want to learn and improve their writing skills, and hope to get nuggets of tips or wisdom to ply their trade better. But writing is a skill basically everyone getting past kindergarten has got. So, why only a few choose to hone it? In spite of a large variety of training schools to improve various aspects of writing such as handwriting, calligraphy, creative writing, speed writing, competitive writing, essay writing, etc. – none of them are attracting a flood of learners or skill seekers. There is a constant complaint in colleges and work places that the writing skills of many don’t pass muster. I suspect that this situation exists because most don’t feel the need to acquire this skill, rather than some inherent deficiency in human capacity.
So, why do some want to write better, improve their writing skills, consider writing to show their character in a better light. I think this is because they are readers. They are skilled in reading, want to read, and believe that by reading they can improve themselves, whether in writing or any other skills they aspire for. Readership, unlike writing, demands more of an individual. Although reading may appear to be a passive activity it requires more application of the mind and mental energy. While writing (at the primitive level) is not constrained by rules of language, logic, the platform (paper or stone or chalk), etc., reading is. If you don’t know the language, can’t see or decipher the symbol, imagine the mood of the painter/writer, etc., you can’t essentially read and interpret the message. You only see them but do not read the content. The same sentence can give different readers different messages, as driven by their persuasions and competence. Thus, reading skill is the filtering mechanism that produces good writers, and the one who want to work on and improve their skills of writing. The more one gets better at reading, they get better at writing. A thing which doesn’t get enough attention is the gradual decline in the reading skills of youngsters. When we develop technologies which dilute the reading skill, such as audiobooks, they become popular. People become more comfortable with reading tweets and SMSes than long treatises, or complete opinions, and in the process eroding their reading skills.
Writing; Reading; Skill Development
Delectable Debates 