In a world where AI can generate all kinds of content with a few clicks, the importance of writing as a life skill and valuable craft is often trivialized. Today, I reflect on why I write and urge all writers to do the same.
October 20 is National Day on Writing in the United States. This initiative of the National Council of Teachers of English aims to draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing, and to help make writers from all walks of life aware of their craft.
As I ponder the reasons why I write in 2026, I look back at the role writing has played in my life and I also look ahead at what the future holds for me as a writer.
My history as a writer
A couple of years ago, I shared my troubled history with writing in a guest post I wrote for Cecilia at The Kitchen’s Garden.
I invite you to read the whole post but I’ll give you the synopsis. After a high school teacher told me I was a terrible writer and should just “stick to typing” I shied away from writing for most of my adult life. As my 55th birthday approached, I realized every job I’ve ever had involved some form of writing. At a bit of a creative loose end, I decided to try my hand at blogging. I’ve never looked back.
Over the past seven years, I’ve written close to 1,000 blog posts. I’ve also written several articles for industry publications and a chapter in the Retirement Coaches Association’s Retirement Voices anthology.
Wanting to stretch my writing capabilities, I tried my hand at poetry, a short story, and a children’s story.
There may even be a book in my future.
So despite what that high school teacher told me, I am a writer.
If AI is writing for you, you’re not a writer
In a world where AI can generate all kinds of content with a few clicks, the importance of writing as a life skill and valuable craft is often trivialized.
In a recent piece on No Sidebar, writer Heather Spiva nicely summed up my thoughts on using AI to write for us.
If I didn’t write it, “the machine” wrote it, which means I can’t take credit for it. I’d rather let my brain work, thank you very much, and write every single word in every article, essay, or blog post I will ever write for the rest of my life, even if it takes days, weeks, months, or years to do it.
Heather Spiva
AI can be a useful tool in many areas of life. However, if you’re taking the easy way out and letting AI do your writing for you, you can’t call yourself a writer.
Why I write in 2026
So why bother writing at all? Why not outsource the writing to AI? Who would even know?
There are three main reasons why I write in an AI-obsessed world:
- Writing offers a creative outlet. Scientists reveal creative pursuits are good for our mental health.
- The world is a little crazy right now, and writing helps me make sense of what’s going on. Putting pen to paper or fingers to keyboard lets me think issues through, form an intelligent opinion, and sometimes even change my point of view.
- One day, I won’t be here any more and the pieces I write are part of the legacy I will leave behind. Although they might not be interested now, I hope these little bits of wisdom written in my authentic voice may be of interest to my daughters in the future.
Above all, I truly enjoy writing. Why would I outsource an activity that gives me pleasure to AI?
What are your thoughts on the importance of writing as a creative pursuit in a world of AI? Why do you write? Drop me a comment below to let me know.
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I like your three reasons, and they’re similar to mine. I’m 100% with you about AI.
Thanks Edward.
You’re so welcome, Michelle.
My problem with writing is my handwriting. Nobody can understand it, not even me. So typing came in very useful for me. I was one boy in a classroom full of girls who learned to speed type. Yeah, I was made fun of, but if it had not been for typing, I’d never have pursed writing.
As for AI, I do use it to check for spelling and grammar mistakes. I also use it for creating images for my blog posts when I don’t have any suitable photos or images of my own to use. It’s also great for helping me with the layout of my blog posts and building my ‘about’ page. I enjoy using AI, but I’m glad we have a choice as to wether to use it, although, in today’s world, AI is something many of use without knowing about it.
I used to have very neat handwriting when I was younger. Since I type more and write less these days, I really have to take my time when I handwrite anything if I want people to be able to read it. I’m grateful that you stuck it out with typing, Hugh. Your writing has helped many people, including me.
I do agree that there are many ways AI can simplify our lives. My concerns are more about the ethical issues related to putting your name on something AI wrote for you.
If it’s an entire post or book, then I agree, Michelle. But not when it comes to helping with grammar issues or suggestions for improving a sentence.
Before AI, I used to use Grammarly, and the thought never crossed my mind then that I should inform readers that I used it to help me. However, with AI, I think it is necessary to inform readers how you use it, more so because we’re all still very much in the learning curve about it.
I agree, Hugh. AI is definitely a learning curve and an area that’s constantly evolving.
You said so much in just a few words here, Michelle:
…”writing helps me make sense of what’s going on…”
Amen! 😊💝😊
Right! It forces me to slow down and think differently. Although some things that are going on still don’t make sense. 😂
Ooof! Yes! 😳
Hurrah to Canada for affirming its ISBN standards regarding human-made and AI-generated writing. And how sad to read that a thoughtless teacher rained on your writing parade so many years ago! I agree that writing can become part of a legacy that we leave behind (although I have not taken the time to make copies of all of my blog posts in the event that WordPress no longer exists…) And I am glad to read that researchers have confirmed that the creative activity is good for our mental health. Let’s continue to create, and vote, and walk lightly on this amazing planet we all call home.
I do all my blog writing in Word and then copy it to WordPress. That way, my content still lives independently outside of WordPress.
Here’s to all the wonderful creators out there!
A lovely tribute to writing, Michelle, which has been a refuge for me since a young kid. Even as someone that works in AI literacy right now, our message is that AI is a tool and human expression is at the heart of all art. I just read yesterday that Library and Archives Canada recently updated their ISBN guidelines so that they can only be provided for works that are generated by humans. It’s quite the stance and we’ll see if other countries follow suite!
Thanks, Ab. Writing truly is a source of refuge and solace in challenging times. I love your message. Yes to human expression! 💖
That’s interesting about Library and Archives Canada’s stance. The challenge is how to prove something is human generated and not AI generated. As we know, there are many people who don’t pay much attention to ethics and they make it more difficult for those of us who are producing content the old-fashioned way.
Proving something is AI – and also not AI – will be the real test! As someone who’s been using em dashes since I was a university student, I now have to consciously edit them out because I don’t want to be accused of using AI in my work. 😂 The conundrum works both ways.
So true! As someone partial to em dashes, I feel your pain!
Oof! I’m with both of you! I love em dashes but geez louise…no one wants their actual writing to be misconstrued. Does this mean I must abandon love of the old em dash. Like for real? Sigh…😟
I think we em dash lovers need to rebel against the AI discrimination. — — — — — — — Take that AI!
Haha! 🤪❤️🤪