Writing in the age of social media

We share things instantly, often without thought, on Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook. Our age is one of crafted Harry Potter listicles, what-dessert-best-represents-me Buzzfeed quizzes (a tart, of course) and the now 280-character, emoji-filled retweets. It begs the question, does blogging, or better yet long-form writing, still matter now that we have Facebook and Twitter? Does anyone care what you have to say? Or are you merely adding to the noise that is the internet?

My answer is a resolute yes. Writing is as relevant and important as ever. Are we not judged by our cover letters and resumes? Our hurried emails? If your words are confusing, unorganized or riddled with typos, particularly in your resume, your audience is likely to writer you off as a poor communicator. Do you really want to work with someone who isn't serious enough to proofread their resume?

Writing helps you translate and understand the world. It's is a way to see the world more clearly. Not only that, but when you write, you must consider the point of view of the reader. (Hii!) You must consider the world from a perspective that is not your own. Welcome down the wonderful path to empathy.

Emojis can only go so far at conveying meaning. And my emoji game is pretty strong. Thoughtful writing has the power to persuade, inspire or change someone’s life. Regardless of the technology ahead, well crafted sentences and engaging paragraphs will endure. Compelling stories matter. They just need someone willing to tell them.