People in every walk of life, in every kind of work, and at every age write more than ever before for personal, professional, and civic purposes. (See Writing in the 21st Century.)
- They write through text messages and IMs, they use video cameras and cell phones, and, yes, even traditional pen and paper.
- The social nature of writing invites people in every walk of life, in every kind of work, and at every age to make meaning through composing.
Newly developing technologies expand the possibilities for composing in multiple media and for speaking to wider audiences than ever before and at a faster pace than ever before in our history.
- Young people using forms of digital media are leading the way in new forms of composing. (See Writing Between the Lines—and Everywhere Else)
- Writers continue to learn how to write for different purposes, audiences, and occasions throughout their lifetimes.
Why a National Day on Writing?
In light of the significance of writing in our national life, to draw attention to the remarkable variety of writing we engage in, and to help writers from all walks of life recognize how important writing is to their lives, NCTE established October 20, 2009, as The National Day on Writing. The National Day on Writing
- points to the importance of writing instruction and practice at every grade level, for every student and in every subject area from preschool through university (see The Genteel Unteaching of America’s Poor),
- emphasizes the lifelong process of learning to write and composing for different audiences, purposes, and occasions, and
- encourages Americans to write and enjoy and learn from the writing of others.
What is the National Gallery of Writing?
The National Gallery is a digital archive of compositions accessible to all through a free, searchable website—a living archive of thousands of examples of writing from across the United States.
- Writers will include with their composition information about themselves and the reasons they selected and submitted it to the Gallery.
- All sorts of compositions will be accepted, including (but not limited to) electronic presentations, blog posts, documentary clips, poetry readings, “how to” directions, short stories, memos, audio and video clips.
The National Gallery features three types of display spaces all curated and collected in a variety of galleries:
What role should NCTE members play?
At the center of this initiative are NCTE members—sharing their knowledge about writing, organizing participating groups in our schools and/or communities, transforming the public’s understanding of writing and the role it plays in society today.
Learn how to get involved or get tips for starting a local gallery.
NCTE members value writing as a tool for learning and live the importance of writing daily.