Exploiting the Decline of Literacy
November 30, 2013
I may not be that old, but
I can still remember a time when life was much less chaotic and fast-paced.
Technology has developed in a way that promotes this forward momentum and it doesn’t
show signs of letting up anytime soon. But this is good, right? Technological
advances mean it is easier to communicate with people, keep track of our schedules,
self-publish our writing, and so much more — but at what cost?
I can still remember a time when life was much less chaotic and fast-paced.
Technology has developed in a way that promotes this forward momentum and it doesn’t
show signs of letting up anytime soon. But this is good, right? Technological
advances mean it is easier to communicate with people, keep track of our schedules,
self-publish our writing, and so much more — but at what cost?
I was having a conversation with a
dear friend of mine the other day about writing and the effects that technology has
had on our perception of how important things like “spelling” and “grammar” are. This got me
thinking about how much can get lost without some of the nuance we find in
spelling and grammar changes. From the perspective of development, it means
there are many more children growing up exposed to texting and tweeting short
forms than ever before.
dear friend of mine the other day about writing and the effects that technology has
had on our perception of how important things like “spelling” and “grammar” are. This got me
thinking about how much can get lost without some of the nuance we find in
spelling and grammar changes. From the perspective of development, it means
there are many more children growing up exposed to texting and tweeting short
forms than ever before.
So what does this have to do with us
as writers and the mistakes we make? Well, I suppose it has a lot to do with us
as writers but less to do with the mistakes we make. Nevertheless, I think it is
an important thing to consider if you are a writer in this fast-paced world. In
our conversation, my friend brought up an important point about not just
spelling and grammar, but literacy in general. There has no doubt been a
correlation between the decrease in word/sentence length and literacy. This
would therefore result in a decreased attention span when it comes to reading.
as writers and the mistakes we make? Well, I suppose it has a lot to do with us
as writers but less to do with the mistakes we make. Nevertheless, I think it is
an important thing to consider if you are a writer in this fast-paced world. In
our conversation, my friend brought up an important point about not just
spelling and grammar, but literacy in general. There has no doubt been a
correlation between the decrease in word/sentence length and literacy. This
would therefore result in a decreased attention span when it comes to reading.
I read a report once stating that
the average attention span of people has decreased from 12 seconds to 8 seconds
in the last decade. I have no formal evidence to prove that there is a direct
cause-and-effect relationship here between literacy and attention span or the decline in both and the rise in technology, but it can’t
be helping. And for us as writers, we have to be mindful of things like the
attention span of our writers.
the average attention span of people has decreased from 12 seconds to 8 seconds
in the last decade. I have no formal evidence to prove that there is a direct
cause-and-effect relationship here between literacy and attention span or the decline in both and the rise in technology, but it can’t
be helping. And for us as writers, we have to be mindful of things like the
attention span of our writers.
I think there has been a huge shift in the way books
are being set up, and it shows in the books that become bestsellers and popular
choices for readers today. Maybe there is something to be exploited about this
decreased attention span and preference for the brief rather than the
Tolkien-esque breadth.
are being set up, and it shows in the books that become bestsellers and popular
choices for readers today. Maybe there is something to be exploited about this
decreased attention span and preference for the brief rather than the
Tolkien-esque breadth.
Shorter sentences, lots of exciting plot points and
shorter chapters are just some of the ways that I think authors these days are
really trying to appeal to a less attentive audience. Authors like Dan Brown
and Stieg Larsson are masters at this. They write large involved books, but they use short accessible chapters that help make a reader feel accomplished (speaking
from personal experience). Why not try and exploit the way we know society is
headed when we can (never sacrificing our own artistic vision, of course)? Again
we come back to not making the mistake of ignoring your readers. And hey, as a
reader AND a writer, I find when I write more chapters that are shorter I feel
more accomplished in my writing, too, and it motivates me to keep going. Just
some food for thought this weekend!
shorter chapters are just some of the ways that I think authors these days are
really trying to appeal to a less attentive audience. Authors like Dan Brown
and Stieg Larsson are masters at this. They write large involved books, but they use short accessible chapters that help make a reader feel accomplished (speaking
from personal experience). Why not try and exploit the way we know society is
headed when we can (never sacrificing our own artistic vision, of course)? Again
we come back to not making the mistake of ignoring your readers. And hey, as a
reader AND a writer, I find when I write more chapters that are shorter I feel
more accomplished in my writing, too, and it motivates me to keep going. Just
some food for thought this weekend!
Special thanks to my friend Lesley for her inspiration
for this post!
for this post!
