Writing: Paper or No Paper?

As our culture continues to evolve with the advancements of technology and communication, we are discovering a change in the way writing is done. Now of course there will always be newspapers, there will always be magazines, and there will always be books; however, in recent years, the production of all these in-print writings have declined. Is this due to the ever developing 'I want it NOW' mentality of our society? Are these in-print media sources being made available online? Will there be a need for printed writing in the future? These are all very important questions that don't necessarily have a clear answer, but they all address a critical idea - Which a better way of writing: Paper or No Paper?

Writing done on paper is concrete. It takes time. It cannot simply be edited, erased, or deleted; however, it cannot be simply distributed to the masses either. Writing done on paper is the staple for history - it has been used to document, enlighten, educate, enforce, and communicate. All these things can also be accomplished by writing not done on paper, but there is something about reading from paper and not a screen that comforts, that lets you know it won't change or go anywhere.

Writing not done on paper is flexible. It takes little time. It can be simply edited, erased, and distributed. Although writing not done on paper is a relatively new concept, it can adjust and accomplish the same objectives writing done on paper has accomplished. More and more, writing done on paper is being transferred to non-paper sources. This is a very exciting process; however, if not done correctly much of the meaning of the writing could be lost. It is important to duplicate every aspect of the writing minus the paper. If this can be successfully done, the opportunities and benefits of non-paper writing are immeasurable.