By: Roxy Gatchell
“The new generation of ____ is doomed.”
You’ve probably heard something along those lines before. The new generation of teachers, students, writers, readers, and publishers – is doomed because of technological advancements that we hesitate to see as progress. Some say the Internet is destroying our reading comprehension and ability to think critically about media, while others worry about the declining use of published paper products.
Amidst this digital panic, we focus on the repercussions of the online writing world rather than the benefits it brings to us. The Internet was created to be a toolset, not an obstacle. It is time we recognize the online space for what it is: a gift of adaptation to a new era of writing and publishing by providing accessibility, interaction, and creativity to its users.
Accessibility
The Internet provides a great deal of accessibility. It allows us to publish from the comfort of our homes, alleviating social anxiety and making editing easier. Anyone can make a blog post, submit work to a digital literary magazine or post on social media. We live in an era of convenience! Additionally, audio clips, videos, and closed captions allow one to interpret work despite disabilities or illnesses that can prevent them from visiting talent exhibitions.
Interaction
A commonly utilized gift of the Internet is interaction among readers and writers. The Internet boosts fandom interactions through fanfiction writing and participation in character and plot discussions. Drafting this article would not be possible without the opportunity to participate in Internet discourse, which allows us to critically analyze media alongside our peers. Online writing forums can be found anywhere, from published magazines to apps like Instagram, Tumblr, Reddit, Coursera, Wattpad or Archive of Our Own. If you’re a writer, there’s a space on the Internet for you.
Creativity
Lastly, the Internet fosters creativity as it changes conventions and invents new mediums for self-expression. Video essays are a notable example of this; they require a polished script, performance, and editing skills. Additionally, interactive online magazines combine the knowledge of website creation with traditional writing and editing. The Internet also helps to eliminate writer’s block by executing challenging ways to incentivize writers, such as The Most Dangerous Writing App, an extension that encourages freewriting by deleting one’s content if one stops to think for too long. If you want to exercise your brain, there is no shortage of online resources.
The Internet is daunting to many, but it certainly is not killing writing. Although the web will never be without its critics voicing their concerns about the state of literature, it is important to remember that every tool can be beneficial in moderation. With its ability to boost accessibility, interaction, and creativity, the Internet offers us a plethora of opportunities. Don’t be afraid to utilize online writing spaces and resources, for they only serve to elevate the skills you already have.