National Writing Day

A person sitting at a vintage desk, wearing glasses, ink pen in hand, surrounded by books and typewriter.. — National writing day illustration

Ready your quills, folks, because today we will delve into the grand epic that is National Writing Day! Featuring 8084 glorious online mentions, with a peak in popularity rising on the poetic date of June 24, 2020. Destined tales, fabled sonnets, and even humble shopping lists, everything falls under this mighty day's purview.

When is Writing Day?

It's national writing day on the 24th June.

The Birth of National Writing Day

Beneath the celestial vault of the internet, we stumble upon whispers of a day dedicated purely to the written word - National Writing Day. A day when keyboards hum with increased gusto and pens are given their rightful limelight.

The Who and Why Of It

Nobody knows who was the spirited individual who ventured into this literary dimension and declared a day dedicated purely to writing. The 'why', however, is as clear as the crisp black font on a white page - to spur people into writing without restraint, to put to pen their thoughts, their dreams, dreams that arise, sometimes when washing dishes or lost deeply in a book.

The Unexpected Heroes

Come June 24, 2020, and National Writing Day donned the cape of Internet Sensation. With 8084 mentions online, words weren't contained in diaries or secret notes anymore. Instead, many of us wore them proudly, like badges, across the realm of the internet.

Tip of the Quill

National Writing Day isn't just about penning bestselling novels or perfectly metered poems, though we won't stop you if you feel so inspired, just an obligation to commit your thoughts and ideas to paper, a gentle nudge to express and not repress!

History behind the term 'Writing'

3500 BCE

Cuneiform: The First Form of Writing

In the year 3500 BCE, the world witnessed the birth of writing with the advent of cuneiform. The Sumerians, who inhabited Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq), developed this system of writing using wedge-shaped marks made on clay tablets. Cuneiform was originally pictographic, representing objects or ideas, but it gradually evolved into a system of representing sounds. It was primarily used for record-keeping and administration in the Sumerian civilization, making it an essential tool for the centralization of power.

1300 BCE

The Phoenician Alphabet

Around 1300 BCE, the Phoenicians, a seafaring civilization based in present-day Lebanon, introduced the first true alphabet. Unlike cuneiform, which consisted of hundreds of complex symbols, the Phoenician alphabet had only 22 characters representing consonant sounds. This simplified writing system spread throughout the Mediterranean and became the foundation for many modern alphabets, including Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, and Latin. The Phoenician alphabet was a crucial cultural development that enabled wider literacy and communication beyond administrative purposes.

5th Century BCE

The Birth of the Codex

In the 5th century BCE, the Greeks revolutionized the way written texts were compiled and organized with the creation of the codex. Before the codex, written documents were usually inscribed on scrolls made of papyrus or parchment. The codex, a precursor to the modern book, consisted of individual pages bound together, allowing easier access to specific sections and facilitating the storage and transportation of multiple texts. This innovation marked a significant shift in the dissemination of knowledge and contributed to the preservation of literature throughout history.

1450 CE

The Printing Press and Moveable Type

The year 1450 CE heralded a monumental leap forward in writing and literacy with the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. This revolutionary technology utilized moveable type, allowing for the mass production of books, pamphlets, and other printed materials. The printing press transformed the accessibility and affordability of written works, enabling the dissemination of knowledge on an unprecedented scale. It played a pivotal role in the spread of the Renaissance, Reformation, and scientific revolution, profoundly shaping the course of history.

20th Century

Digital Age and Word Processing

The 20th century witnessed another transformative leap in writing with the advent of digital technology. Word processors, such as the famous Microsoft Word, introduced in 1983, revolutionized the way people write, edit, and share documents. The ease of digital editing, spell-checking, and formatting significantly streamlined the writing process, making it more efficient and accessible to a broader population. Furthermore, the internet and electronic communication platforms further transformed the dissemination of written information and facilitated global collaboration.