Technology has reshaped our lives in a drastic way. Looking back on the technological advancements of the last few decades, we can’t help but be astonished by the giant leaps humanity has made and we can’t help but wonder what else there is in store for us. From solar energy to self-driving cars, from AI assistants to drones, technology has come a far way and it keeps improving. In this article, Essay Writing Service UK outline how exactly technology is affecting the writing industry.
We are used to employing the latest gadgets without giving them a second thought. But if we stop and analyze technology carefully, we’ll see the huge role it plays in our day to day lives: we use our smartphones to call an Uber, we keep track of our calories with an app, we pay for groceries with our smartphones and we can dim the light with a voice command. And our social interactions and behaviors have changed dramatically in the last few decades as well. Letters and postcards are almost extinct, replaced by instant messages via apps like WhatsApp or Facebook’s Messenger.
The writing industry hasn’t remained unscathed either. Long gone are the days of typewriters, pencil sharpeners and blotting papers. The vast majority of writers now employ different tools of trade: extra-large smartphones, iPads or tablets, and laptops. 21st century literature is produced, packaged and consumed at an entirely different level than 20th century literature. Keep reading to find out all the major ways in which technology has affected the writing industry in the last few decades.
1. Writing Speed
Bloggers, journalists, copywriters, novelists, poetry writers, ghost writers and even students have benefited from technological advancements when it comes to writing speed. Nowadays, if you feel nostalgic, you start writing your material on a notepad. But not only is this environmentally unfriendly, it’s also excruciatingly time-consuming. Computers have revolutionized the way we write.
The average typing speed in adults is 40 words per minute, which translates to 400 words per 10 minutes and 2400 words per hour. For faster typists who are also skilled writers, the numbers look even better. Experienced writers can knock out 2000 words per hour, especially when they are in a time crunch.
The most important change technology has brought to literature is undoubtedly the speed with which we can type, communicate and share ideas. Writers are no longer restricted by their hand-writing speed. They no longer have to employ someone to decipher their manuscripts and type them out on typewriters. Writers have more tools at their disposal nowadays than they have ever had in history! Not only are they spoilt for choice with text editors, they also have countless of organizational tools and apps at their disposal to help with their work load and enable them to complete their writing tasks faster than ever before.
2. Instant Feedback
Needless to say, technology has managed to shatter all geographical barriers and impediments. Nowadays, communicating with a person at the other end of the world is done instantaneously. Writers who heavily rely on feedback from employees, peers or their audience can stay connected with everyone effortlessly.
This unprecedented situation has certainly left its mark on contemporary literature. Aspiring novelists or poetry writers need only submit their latest creations to literary forums in order to gauge the readership’s reaction and adjust their material accordingly. Literary circles are not extinct but they have a different shape and form nowadays. Writers with the same interests can find each other on the internet and meet-up for reading and feedback sessions.
It’s been said over and over again until it’s become a cliché: the internet brings people together. This powerful tool that has reshaped the 21st century can be used in a myriad of ways. One of its most striking accomplishments is connecting people, enabling them to engage, to share ideas and, most importantly, seek and receive constructive criticism.
Whether you want to hear from a consecrated lit-critic or an avid reader, you need only post your material online. But brace yourself! Under the cloak of anonymity, many feel safe to be brutally honest. There are also alternatives for when you don’t want to make your work public: professional writing services that can either write your paper from scratch, offer advice or just proofread and polish your material.
3. Research
When it comes to online research, the internet can be both a blessing and a curse. The beauty of the world wide web is that anyone can add their story to this huge inventory of data. But the ugly side of the story is that no one bothers to check the facts.
Writers find themselves having access to all the information they need. If you’re writing a novel set in Colombia you don’t actually have to visit it to get a sense of the surroundings. Simply open Google Maps and start wandering around the streets. Check the forecast to see what the weather’s like. Take a look at the latest news to get the pulse of the nation. Then you can let your imagination run wild!
Naturally, nothing compares with experiencing things first-hand. Novelists and journalists still prefer to see things for themselves and take notes on the field. However, bloggers, copywriters and ghost writers can only benefit from online research, virtual tours and video conferences. The speed, reliability and convenience of the internet make writers efficient and fast. Not only can they produce content speedily, their work is high-quality and fact-checked.
4. Distribution Channels
Technology has been helping us stay creative and bring our dreams to life for the past few decades. Not only is it easy to express ourselves, stay organized and receive constructive criticism from peers and readers, it is also extremely easy for writers to distribute their work, to reach out to everyone and make their voices heard.
Passionate writers who want to put their work out there don’t have to waste time looking for a publishing house willing to help them. Setting-up a blog, writing an e-book, sending out newsletters is incredibly simple, accessible and inexpensive! The writing industry has truly been revolutionized. Nowadays, all writers need to do is press a button and their content is online for everyone to read, enjoy or dislike!
And with things being so simple, it’s no wonder many people try it at one point or another. Signing up for WordPress is a piece of cake. Writing your first few blog posts comes easy. It’s around this time that half of the aspiring journalists, writers or bloggers give up. Unmotivated, undisciplined or simply uninterested anymore, online personas go silent and never sign in to their distribution channel again. Only the few who persevere will end up succeeding.
An online blog doesn’t necessarily imply publishing your work just for the sake of it and not getting anything in return. With the help of monetization, ads and affiliate links, bloggers can make a living through their website as long as they are diligent and have a loyal following. And it’s not uncommon for bloggers to use their online readers in order to get a book deal from the biggest publishers on the market.
5. Everyone Has a Voice, Everyone Is a Writer
Nowadays, writing comes in a plethora of shapes and forms: tweets, Facebook comments, Reddit posts, Yelp testimonials, Goodread reviews, and Wikipedia contributions – what do they all have in common? They’re all live expressions of people from different corners of the world. They are often genuine, raw and unedited. Their aim is to communicate, to help, to share, to warn or to amuse.
The greatest gift technology has given mankind is a resounding voice. We can all speak up, reach out, weigh in, contribute or point out grammatical errors. We are all writers. Last century’s love letters have been replaced by cheesy instant messages. Pressed flowers of yesteryear are nowadays heart emoticons. Locks of hair are obsolete; in their place – pouty selfies.
6. Virtual Jobs
Technology has also reshaped the writing industry’s workforce. From job hunting to online interviews and working remotely, writers, bloggers and journalists work in a different rhythm and environment than their peers from a century ago. You can live in Europe and work for a US firm. You can work remotely from an exotic beach and get paid through PayPal. You can use the internet to find well-paid writing gigs. Ghost writing and web content writing are in high demand and talented writers are always keen to provide high-quality, entertaining materials.
The writing industry has transformed completely. With new distribution channels, new types of readers, new ways of reading and engaging with content, writing keeps evolving. Internet users are notorious for having a super short attention span. Copywriters only have a few seconds at their disposal to catch their attention before they swipe away to the next ad, blog or post. Enter online marketing techniques! This new but vast field is always changing and improving. As user behavior changes at the same time with the release of new gadgets and technologies, advertisers, marketers and writers have to think on their feet and compete for the readers’ time.
Nowadays, content writers need to be more than great wordsmiths. They need to have SEO knowledge, they need to know how to sell, how to pique the audience’s interest, how to keep them on the website, and, most importantly, how to solve their problem.
BIO
Laura Thompson works at Essay Writing Service UK under the English and Creative Writing fields. With experience of undertaking modules in a diverse range of subjects, she has acquired exceptional knowledge of contemporary and classical theories which include philosophy, history, cultural studies, film and literature. Having recently graduated with a first Class combined Bachelor’s with honours, she has a clear understanding of current academic systems and regulations, as well as high quality proof reading skills.
