A Name Change Inspired by Ancient Egypt and The Papyrus Plant

Don’t adjust your screens, this is our new name. Same logo though.

Don’t adjust your screens or your glasses. Don’t holler at the autocorrect bots on your phone. It’s not you, it’s me. I, Lori L. Tharps, Storyteller in Chief here on the blog, podcast and all things Read, Write & Create, have officially changed the name of the this here platform. We are not longer operating under the name Read, Write, & Create. Since the end of 2023 we have officially changed our name to Reed, Write, & Create. (Note: the website url is now: ReedWriteandCreate.com)

Why the Change to Reed, Write, & Create

I will spare you all of the legal details because they are boring and tedious, and jump right to the plot point. I am changing the name of this podcast from Read, Write, & Create to Reed, Write, & Create because of trademark issues.  Thanks to my incredibly witty, linguist husband, however, we came up with the idea of simply changing Read to Reed. It sounds the same, but it’s a completely different word. But even better, that word change actually makes perfect sense for a brand that champions BIPOC stories and storytelling. To understand why, we have to travel back in time.

The Reed that Changed the Literary World

Before the invention of papyrus scrolls, people were forced to write on cave walls. Which didn’t travel well.

In ancient Egypt, a seemingly magical plant known as cyperus papyrus grew along the banks of the Nile river. The green flower of the plant burst forth like the rays of the sun, and the base of the plant, that drew its nutrients from the Nile, was in the shape of a pyramid. Everything about the papyrus plant was auspicious and seemed holy. But more than the visual imagery that spoke to the Egyptian people, the papyrus plant was a godsend because of its many utilitarian uses. The reeds of the plant, which look like sugarcane or bamboo, are thick and green on the outside. When peeled, those thick green outer layers were used to make regular household goods like sandals, mats, baskets and rope. 

The invention of papyrus was a game changer for sharing stories and knowledge. And remarkably, many documents written on ancient papyrus still exist!

But the inner layer of the reeds of the papyrus plant revolutionized the world, because they were used to make papyrus. Yes, the pre-cursor to paper. So these reeds were stripped, soaked, pounded, woven together, and then left to dry in the sun. The results were scrolls that people could write on. These scrolls were lightweight, flexible, and best of all, could travel, unlike the rocks, stone tablets, and cave walls where folks had been forced to write things prior to the discovery of papyrus scrolls. 

And you know what happened when they put a whole bunch of scrolls, covered with text together? Right? Yes, the ancient Egyptians created the first books. Yes, books. On paper. Or rather, on papyrus. And these books, filled with knowledge, information, and stories, could travel great distances because they were so light. And soon, papyrus scrolls made from the reeds that grew along the Nile, were in great demand from civilizations across Africa, Europe and Asia  who wanted to document their stories and their wisdom and send them out into the world. 

You see where I’m going with this, right? You see how this name change almost feels divinely ordered, right? I mean, the reed of the papyrus, is the beginning of paper. It’s the origin story of the book. It is how the Egyptian people got their stories and their culture out into the world, and then paved the way for others to do the same. Just like I am in with this blog and this brand. 

Reed, Write, & Create Stands for BIPOC Storytelling

Am I saying, that Reed, Write, & Create is at the same level of importance as the invention of paper? No. Am I comparing myself to the ancient Egyptians in terms of our contributions to world culture? Absolutely not. But I do want to be known as a brand with a mission to help as many BIPOC stories and storytellers as possible, make their way into the world. Just like the ancient Egyptians did with their papyrus scrolls made from the reeds of the papyrus plant.

Moving forward, when you see the name, Reed, Write, & Create, I hope you think about this hearty plant grown along the banks of the Nile river. I hope it invokes the joy and jubilation of a people finally being able to put their ideas and stories down in print and then being able to ship those stories across rivers and oceans to touch the lives of countless other human beings.

One of my favorite books I purchased in 2023 was actually called Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World by Irene Vallejo. Truth be told, I haven’t finished the book, but I have read far enough to learn all about the papyrus plant and the early production of papyrus scrolls made from reeds. If I hadn’t read that book, I don’t know what my company would be called. So, in a way it all starts and ends with books.

Am I mad that I had to change the name of my brand? Not really. Even though it has taken a lot of work behind the scenes to make the changes, and even though I will certainly lose some of my audience because of algorithms and lost links, I’m actually pretty excited about the synchronicity of it all. I hope you are too.