We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, but not all can write.
The course of recent technological events has made the separation of those who can write from their contracts, exploitations, and fears — which keep them from independence and prosperity — complete.
We have been endowed with absolute possibility, and the tools to pursue it.
If any individual or organization becomes an enemy of this possibility, we can … leave.
We will lay a foundation of study, research, and practice, so that nothing can lock our destiny away from us.
If our pursuit ends in failure, we can begin again.
Organizing our powers through dedication and sweat, we are now marked only by courage, workmanship, and character.
For we need never return to the abuses, ignorance, and shallow suggestions of those who — knowing nothing of its power — belittle the craft.
It is our collective duty in this age to throw off such idiocy, and work honorably toward our intent.
We have been patient through centuries of derision and misuse.
We are now declared free from the tyranny of The Gatekeeper.
We are free to engage the marketplace directly, and to live or die by our best ideas, and honest efforts.
Will you join us?
About the Author: Robert Bruce is Copyblogger Media’s Chief Copywriter and Resident Recluse.
I decided to declare my independence from technology for the whole weekend. No internet, phone, twitter, etc. It was glorious. Thanks for the reminder!
That’s great Ethan. I’m trying to at least minimize my usage of technology. Not very successful in that. Maybe I should take this up as a challenge
With great power comes great responsibility.
I.e. I am fed up with some of the crap that is on the internet that people are able to publish because they have the power to!
Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy the Gatekeeper has become obsolete, but it does create a free-for-all environment.
Luckily the Internet is rather Darwinian…
Now you are the Gatekeeper for what you read. Which is pretty excellent, actually.
Someone stole my gate. Still need to get down to the e-hardware store and get another…
I join thee. In the adventure of unlocking massive potential by getting inside the readers mind…. by feeling all the pains he feels and by showing him the right solution… not because we earn out of it but because we want to add value to the whole ecosystem.
Adding value is a really nice thought. However, how do we “measure” value? Our metrics needn’t be what other people see it to be.
This was very clever! Actually made laugh, but yes I will join the revolt! Lol Viva La Good Writing!!!
Count me in. But a revolt? Maybe….
As I wrote in my blog today, in the frenzied world we live in there is no time to read simply for the beauty of the language — yes, the Constitution is written in the florid language of the day, but there’s no mistaking the passion and commitment of our founding fathers. Can you imagine anyone today writing, “… with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Not enough sacred honor today. Anything goes.
Your quote is the SAME excerpt I discussed with my friends and family last Fourth of July. We may not speak or write that way anymore, Jeannette, but I’m glad some of us still appreciate the passion.
Love this line: “We are free to engage the marketplace directly, and to live or die by our best ideas, and honest efforts.”
Jeannette – I agree heartily. I also found something else of note in the Declaration of Independence when I read it a couple years ago with my kids. Something that everyone struggling to build their writing business – or business – should read. It intrigued me that the founding fathers made a point of noting this in this document – a challenge that never goes away. It’s right here:
http://fitfamilytogether.com/declare-your-independence
Very cool.
Are Brits allowed to join this time?
You’re welcome to our revolution any time, Mark.
Well said
It’s amazing what power writing gives us – especially considering how onerous some content generation tasks can seem. What a great reminder to harness that power and utilize it to its best advantage!
Happy Fourth of July!!!
Hilarious Robert! Well Said.
I’m engaged with the process as we speak. (This site is one of my beginner one’s)
Thank You, Thank You, Thank You for all your Killer Information and for walking the talk!!!
You Guys Rock!
Music to my ears. Privileged to write. Amen!
You’ve got my John Hancock.
I love the Declaration of Independence and the fact that our Founding Fathers were willing to die for what they believed in. We’ve become of nation with co-called leaders who live for the vote regardless of what is right for the people of the Unites States of America—a far cry from people with true character and conviction and the courage to do the right thing by founding a country based on principles that made us strong and indebted to no one.
Good writing will inevitably rise to the top, as with thick, rich cream. Darwin had it nailed.
Love this!!! Thank you for posting. Wishing everyone at Copyblogger a happy Fourth Of July!
Rock on, RB. Awesome post!
And may we never falter in our freedom to be creative; nor fall short of our own greatness that walks upon the mind beckoning to our creativity that begs of us expression.
I agree with Jeanette. There is not enough sacred honor today. The beauty of the language is [why] we read. We each need to be upholding the florid language of the past, despite the absence of a Gatekeeper. If we can write [dare I say beautifully]… we should. If we can’t… we should self regulate and let the keyboard be still. We owe as much to the world.
And I’m also with Jimmy on loving this line:
“We are free to engage the marketplace directly, and to live or die by our best ideas, and honest efforts.”
Now there’s a rousing call to arms [grin] I love it.
This is brilliant! You’ve managed to demonstrate the same philosophy I try to write by. Writing because we can, because it feels good, and for ourselves was never before so DOABLE! So what if someone doesn’t care for what we have to say; it’s for us and anyone else who comes along on the journey is just a bonus. And if someone doesn’t like it? Fooey on them, we don’t need anyone’s approval. Brilliant.
–Shane
Very ingenious and fitting on Independance Day. *golf clap*
Imagine what or forefathers would think today of so many people not really writing to be read but writing for keywords and SEO and cluttering up our language with total crap.
Woo! Independent writers are going mainstream. I started an indie fiction magazine for writers of fiction to showcase their talent.
An interesting and well-intentioned attempt at a Declaration of Independence for Scribes. Might I suggest others contribute to this earnest endeavour through perhaps their greater knowledge of the English language, its grammar and syntax? Tenet two for instance might benefit considerably from some further consideration. As it stands, it is open to an almost opposite meaning than I believe was intended. In the current wording it states: “The course of recent technological events has made the separation of those who can write from their contracts, exploitations, and fears — which keep them from independence and prosperity — complete.” This appears to state that : “The course of recent technological events has made the separation of those who can write from their contracts, exploitations, and fears, complete.” Well, yes, I am sure there are those who can write from their contracts, exploitations and fears, and in doing so, make their separation complete. (from what is not made clear). Might I contribute this as a possible substitute that could make the point clearer? Would this not aid in making this tenet less susceptible to misinterpretation? Also, while not intending in any way to belittle the intention of this “Declaration”, does not the first tenet sound like something the “Gatekeeper” in the last tenet might himself have written? To wit: who, or through what mechanism is the writer to be identified? Despair not! I often wonder how Jefferson rationalized his “florid” statement …”all men are created equal. …” Meanwhile back at Monticello I do believe there were one or two of the household staff that may have taken issue with Mr. Jefferson’s point. I have always believed that the Declaration of Independence was understood by the brilliant men who participated in the creation of this truly awe-inspiring document to have written it with the sincere anticipation that equally brilliant men in future years would continue to refine the essence of its meaning. We must all start somewhere, and the American Declaration of Independence reflects some of the most noble of human intentions ever committed to paper. I would not so much describe the writing as “florid” as I would sublime. That the society and nation for which it was written was flawed makes not a scintilla of difference to the immaculate sincerity of the Declaration’s intent. And so this Canadian salutes America on this Fourth of July, and hopes that others who read this Writer’s Declaration of Independence will participate in the refinement of this effort. It is worth the attention. I hope others take up their pen in the refinement of its words and salute the person who brought it into being. What a grand way to have chosen to celebrate America’s birthday.
Re: My just written comment – Why was my suggestion as an alternative way to phrase tenet two entirely deleted from this comment. The point is lost. I suggested in the original submission that tenet two might be improved by being written thus:
“The course of recent improvements in communications technology has made possible a complete separation between those who can write of their own freewill from those who must comply to contracts which impede their writing through the exploitation and fears that such contracts might instil.” This as the principle intent of commenting in the first place and through the apparent improvements in communication technologies disappeared entirely (was censured) from the original posting when I pressed the Post Comment button. It makes me think twice about the freedom the newer technologies bestow of free-will in writing. What happened?? Sorry to those who read my first posting. I hope this survives, to complete my suggested change. The suggested re-phrasing should have appeared directly after the sentence: “Might I contribute this as a possible substitute that could make the point clearer…” Does the moderator have anything to suggest why this sentence was erased when I read the real posting??? Kind of ruined my point. TRL
Timothy,
Thanks for your notes. Your comment was published precisely as you submitted it, and not “censured” as you suggest.
Useful criticism is always welcome around here: http://www.copyblogger.com/comment-policy/
Hey thanks Bruce. Weird how just the one sentence went into the ether. Hmmm. CIA, FBI? Am I paranoid?? Considering the topic was your Declaration against censorship, it made me laugh. Happy 4th from Canada.
… and let’s not confuse “censured” [to criticise or blame] and “censored” [to suppress]
Ah, wise Ms. Burman. Your point well taken. Yet another refinement and in this case, the clear misuse of a word. I did indeed mean “censored’. No need to Happy Face me…although the gesture is appreciated. I did screw up. Thanks for the correction. So, is anyone going to take up the challenge of adding to/refining Mr. Bruce’s first draft? Take for instance the invention of the “Tweet”. Is this the distillation of language to its purest and clearest form, unencumbered by unnecessary adjectives, adverbs, tangents, run-ons, etc? Or is it the death knell of the writer’s art? Or, is it designed to challenge us to meet the media’s parameters. “KISS”. Conversely, I often picture some hair-brained young lady attempting to text on her microscopic keypad, some inane and wholly unnecessary comment while simultaneously sipping her BIG SLURP, applying eye-liner, eyeballing her GPS and lighting a cigarette when in the midst of attempting to wield a half-ton of steel and plastic along the passing lane of a city expressway at 70 mph (115k/hr) during the traffic hour? All of which begs the question: “Can one chew gum and tweet a twit at the same time?” Or…how about this question? “Do all advancements in communication technologies encourage and support a higher degree of literacy?” What say you?
“We are now declared free from the tyranny of The Gatekeeper.” Well done.
very nice thoughts are written over here
Joining you on this! Cue the fireworks.
Hope you all had a great fourth.
I love this! Being a writer is a difficult path – but a worthwhile one.
Happy Independence Day to everyone at Copyblogger!
“that all men are created equal, but not all can write.”
This is so true! If you don’t have the writing ability to produce great content, then hire or outsource it to someone who can. Great content is critical to online marketing success.
Very well written.
I am interested in reading the amendments!
very nice thoughts are written over here
Let the people decide! And when they love it and they see that a writer’s talent cannot be replaced, then let there be a tip jar! Micro payments must become a reality so that we can choose our news, and give the writers more than a by-line. We could create our own daily news this way. Yay! Shivers. Wooohooo!
I really enjoyed this, even as a Brit!!
This article is so well written! Your style is inspirational!