Comments on: The web devalues words – literally http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/02/the-web-devalues-words-literally/ News & views on e-books, libraries, publishing and related topics Sat, 21 Nov 2009 20:01:59 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Robert Nagle http://www.teleread.org/2009/02/02/the-web-devalues-words-literally/comment-page-1/#comment-1009261 Robert Nagle Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:55:51 +0000 http://www.teleread.org/?p=16276#comment-1009261 As a technical writer, I find writing somewhat lucrative. Writing is a secondary skill for careers and not often a primary skill. Writing enhances other skills you may have, so I don't think you can measure the economic value of words purely on your ability to sell a piece of writing. Would a VP of Microsoft find his net worth increased by having better communication skills? Probably. The more important question is NOT whether the web reduces the economic value of writing. It's whether the cultural importance of writing has declined in the last decade. I can't say one way. My guess is that it hasn't. As a technical writer, I find writing somewhat lucrative. Writing is a secondary skill for careers and not often a primary skill. Writing enhances other skills you may have, so I don’t think you can measure the economic value of words purely on your ability to sell a piece of writing. Would a VP of Microsoft find his net worth increased by having better communication skills? Probably.

The more important question is NOT whether the web reduces the economic value of writing. It’s whether the cultural importance of writing has declined in the last decade. I can’t say one way. My guess is that it hasn’t.

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