The practice of writing—already grossly overvalued—may soon attract scorn for its popularity. Every industry and every field of study sings its praises, and most Americans would sooner question Abraham Lincoln’s importance than question the importance of solid prose. Our infatuation with writing infects every corner of society.
No sane person would argue against writing’s financial value. In this century alone, the list of rich and famous writers stretches towards infinity. Name just one famous essayist—it’s hard, isn’t it? Choosing just one name from the scores of famous poets proves nearly as difficult. People who toil in undervalued professions like business or personal injury law aspire to wealth; the modern writer can scarcely avoid affluence.
In recent years, our society’s intoxication with writing has spread to education. The American high school has tried—and failed—to disguise its motives by removing “grammar” from its name. High school graduates are now so far advanced that they no longer need to tell subject from predicate, or noun from verb. Past generations required a grammatical vocabulary to write carefully; today’s students practice writing so often that it becomes innate.
In academia, our obsession with writing is even worse. New “English centers” and dedicated writing buildings dot campuses across the nation, while engineering and science departments starve from lack of funding. Those few writers who resist the temptations of industry are the darlings of the NSF, which is scientific in name only.
Only one of writing’s virtues has escaped public furor. Though it pains me to spread this plague, I must call attention to the “green case” for writing.
Good prose saves trees.
In other words, ecumenical writing exhibits many properties that, if examined correctly, reveal a considerably amenable disposition towards environmental and ecological progress. And every time we say “good prose saves trees” instead of that monstrosity, we save 18 words. When we cut fat out of sentences, we cut down fewer trees. Applied to every sentence, this mindset could save whole forests.
As I said before, I hate to praise writing, but the green argument is the only one left. Good writing could save our planet. Failing that, it can at least save our minds.
