A Home for Lost Writers:
The Third Print Revolution

Once upon a time, books were copied by hand and locked away in the hallowed halls of cloisters and monasteries. Only an elite class of clergy had access to the ancient wisdom contained in these tomes. The land lay in literary darkness, as few commoners ever learned to read. Then, in 1436, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, revolutionizing the Western world by showering it with the light of learning. The availability of books prompted a rise in literacy and intellectualism, ultimately leading to the Renaissance.

Once upon a time, the written word came printed on paper. Though people were free to purchase books, magazines and newspapers, media companies controlled editorial content and lines of distribution, relegating interaction between writers and readers to the “Letters to the Editor” page. Then, in 1995, several companies began to publicly offer a service that had been in development for governmental use since the early sixties. The Internet gave all people (who owned computers) access to information on everything from recipes to ancient India. Communication via email was instantaneous, allowing people to easily communicate and spread knowledge. Anyone with an opinion to express (informed or otherwise) could start their own weblog.

Once upon a time, readers could choose between the refined content of magazine articles and the personal, extemporaneous postings on a blog. They could choose sports or music, right-wing or left-wing, literary or pop culture. Despite the progress of the last five hundred years, barriers remained between writers and their audiences; publications in print and on the web continued to adhere to genre types and static ideologies. In 2006, however, a new revolution was born, with the debut of LostWriters.net. A collective of seven “Found Voices” blogged weekly, while a staff of young writers and intellectuals contributed articles ranging from poetry to politics to sports.

Writers and readers of a new generation were no longer lost. Finally a home for their voices had been found. These voices represented different genders, sexualities, races, religions, ethnicities, opinions and interests. The diversity of the site’s content was matched only by the diversity of its writers. Throughout the land, a community began to take shape where readers and writers interacted online. All voices were heard and all positions considered. A cultural dialogue flourished, with no rules to govern it save intellectual honesty.

Join the revolution and let your voice be heard at www.LostWriters.net.