Laurawrites.net

Writing is the most lasting, and depending on whom you ask, the most beautiful tool of communication in existence. Individuals alive today can decipher historic writings dating back millennia. Museums display historic documents prominently under secure glass. People frequently collect books published through the 1800s and early 1900s to display in their homes. Famous quotes and biblical scripture have decorated pillows, picture frames, and most household items for centuries via needlepoint, paint, and later contemporary printing methods, such as screen-printing.

Early civilizations across the world used runic, cuneiform, or “picture,” alphabets to document what they felt was important. Egypt is best known for their artful hieroglyphs, or picture writing. The Maya had their own form of picture writing, but sadly, only around 80% of all Mayan hieroglyphs are understood. Archeologists and other professionals have been laboring with translation since the Seventeenth Century.

The Hunnic, Indus Valley, Minoan, and Zemgalian languages are just a few of the world’s ancient languages that remain relatively unknown. Their full impact is lost in time. The Chinese were the last ancient civilization to develop written script, however, they have a unique “non-phonetic” characteristic. These written characters are representative of words and symbols, but many can’t be read aloud because there is no equivalent in the spoken word.

Throughout Europe, civilizations built their own languages with their identities. The Ogham script was developed in Ireland. The Norse, or Scandinavian, countries developed the Futhark. Both Ogham and Futhark were eventually overtaken by Latin. An original alphabet, of some form, became a symbol of identity and culture for nearly all ancient civilizations and ethnicities.

The medium for writing has drastically changed through time, as has the characters and markings. Humanity began writing on rocks, clay tablets, leaves, and wood, which gave way to papyrus and primitive rice papers. Writing materials continued to evolve to the products used today. The inks and binding instruments have likewise become more durable, easier to use, and more appropriate for book form.

A German printer named Johan Gutenberg (1400-1468) invented the moveable printing press. His device revolutionized printing, but still, there was a great distance between his invention and our printing of today. Printing was a time-consuming and laborious task until the Nineteenth Century.

Writers in early America were most frequently used for menial tasks. Documenting life, communication, maintaining vital and court records, and aiding in map development seemed to be the primary reasons for writing. However, as America developed as a country, it also developed its own art. Creative writing eventually became one of the major branches in our art and culture.

There are so many classic American authors it would take a novel unto itself just to discuss them. To briefly skim across the spectrum, you would find names like Robert Frost, Mark Twain, Edgar Allan Poe, and Earnest Hemingway. These writers developed a distinct and markedly “American” aspect worldwide in the field of literature.

While the rest of the nation grew and prospered, Appalachian areas remained far more dependent upon agriculture and the labor-intensive work of mining. Why is this? One theory is the mountains we love were too steep for industries to easily develop. However, this is disputed by the fact that coal was in demand from outside industries and methods of transportation were created. Why did that differ from any other product?

During this arduous era, few of our writers were capable of finding the time and supplies needed for writing. Even those who were privileged to have the tools were pressed for time. Many writers who grew up in this life have written much poetry and short stories dealing with the hardships and struggles. Don West portrays a vivid picture of this grueling life in his work, “Harlan Portraits.”

Typewriters and word processors were the next major step for the Appalachian author. The typewriter, primarily, was the tool of the Twentieth Century. For an example of an early Appalachian work, please see “Effie” published at the end of this volume. Word processors came into the writer’s life around the 1970s and home computers arrived in the 1980s. Due to the expensive prices of these tools, the typewriter ruled until the 1990s.

The home computer has become the greatest friend a writer can have. It can easily manage novel-length works, unlike the typewriter. There is virtually no limit on your file size, as with word processors. You are free to print out problematic areas or do your work onscreen if your eyes better adjust to that. The best qualities are the space-friendly work areas. Computers are smaller and the ability to work and edit on a screen saves countless reams of paper and cartridges of ink.

If you own no other tool and intend on being a professional writer, get a computer with a word processing program. Most publishers, editors, and agencies will not accept typewritten or word processor works any longer. The print from these antiquated devices is unreliable, occasionally misaligned, and often fades or creates blemishes. The concept of handwriting your correspondence or manuscript shouldn’t even register. It will not be accepted, or even read.