Anyone who has been in school or university is still part of the generation who could not rely on ChatGPT to write their essays and articles for them. Some of us love writing, some of us hate it, but all of us learn from it.
In my experience, most of us in the agricultural sector did not end up here to pursue a love for writing. We generally end up in this sector due to a love and passion for farming or a love and passion for studying and developing the farming industry. We have the doers – those who are feet-in-the-mud and loving it – and the thinkers – those who are working tirelessly in laboratories or conducting various studies to better the agricultural sector through research, development, and innovation. In this article, I want to inspire you, as an agricultural enthusiast or professional, to write more, and I am going to tell you why.
When I was in university, I had a brilliant professor who always used to say,
“When you don’t have time to write a short letter, you write a long one.”
This has rung true in my experience long after my master's thesis. Writing in a short, powerful, engaging, and comprehensive way is not an easy task. I find it easier to write a 10-page article than a well-rounded two-pager. Why is that?
Writing a short, impactful, comprehensive piece requires you, as the writer, to refine your thoughts, focus on articulation, and order them in such a way that your audience can follow along and walk away with a clear message.
Practicing writing will help you develop the skill to refine your thoughts and present them in short and effective ways.
Have you ever watched a TED-X talk or seen a speaker engage an audience on a stage where you find yourself captivated by that person’s ability to communicate so well? I know I have.
But Mark Twain once said,
“It usually takes more than three weeks to prepare a good impromptu speech.”
Have you ever noticed how some of the best speakers happen to be authors? Speakers like Simon Sinek or Brené Brown are perfect examples. Their TED talks went viral almost overnight as people became engulfed by their talks, which were informative, inspiring, and powerful. I believe the fact that they have spent years refining their thoughts around their particular subject matter is more than half the reason why they are such brilliant speakers. They wrote, then they spoke. They have repeatedly done this over a series of books and speaking events. I am sure you could put either one of them on a stage to speak on the fly today, and while they may be unprepared for that specific moment, their preparation and foundation for captivating and informative speaking are captured in the hundreds of notebooks in their studies while they were writing.
Practicing writing will, over time, make you a better speaker and empower you to communicate your ideas and opinions eloquently on multiple different platforms.
Think about an expert in the agricultural field who you aspire to be like. Can you think of any? What makes them an expert?
The dictionary defines expertise as “A high level of skill or knowledge in a particular area, often recognised by others within that field.”
Many of us aspire to become recognised in the industry as experts in the field we are passionate about. The wise Robert Greene once said,
“Experts are not born; they are made through relentless effort and dedication.”
And David Epstein, who happens to be a New York Best Selling Author, well-known journalist, and popular TEDx speaker, says that expertise is not a static condition but a constant pursuit. There are many talented visionaries in the agricultural sector who are not recognised as broadly as they could be. There are ideas waiting to change the world that can be challenged and bettered only once they are shared and accessible to an audience who are passionate about the same cause.
Writing can help you build your credibility and visibility within the industry while aiding your network-building efforts in relevant fields.
We are living in the 21st century. Gone are the days when people raced to the music store to buy an album the week it was released. Gone are the days when you needed to sign a deal with a publicist to share your ideas and thoughts through the written word. With websites being accessible to all of us, and free platforms like LinkedIn and Facebook, you can start sharing your ideas and visions tomorrow.
Writing beyond what is required for your course material or job description is, in my opinion, one of the first things that can make you stand out in the industry.
Writing will help you navigate your own interests and future pursuits in the industry.
You will quickly discover what bores you and what interests you based on your willingness to write about it. Writing can be your compass in your career path because it keeps you so well in tune with your inner self, your true interests, your desired audience and networks, and your vision.
Writing can be challenging at first, but once you have found what you want to write about, and who you want to write to, you are on your way to building your expertise and meeting the right people to help you on your journey.
What are you afraid of? Every well recognised and respected expert was once a beginner.
Michelle Marais - Winner of the 2024 Voice of Women in Agriculture
An opportunity for junior agri-writers:
There is a great writing competition open until the end of August 2024 on Farmingportal.
Check it out here
All international entries are welcome. You must be younger than 28 to enter. There is a technical and non-technical category. Whether you want to share your research or an inspiring agricultural story, this is your opportunity.
