What is writing

-Writing is a method of representing language

in visual or tactile form. Writing systems use
sets of symbols to represent the sounds of
speech, and may also have symbols for such
things as punctuation and numerals.
There are two ways to define writing system:

-a system of more or less permanent marks used to
represent an utterance in such a way that it can be
recovered more or less exactly without the intervention
of the utterer. From The World's Writing Systems

-a set of visible or tactile signs used to represent units of
language in a systematic way, with the purpose of
recording messages which can be retrieved by everyone
who knows the language in question and the rules by
virtue of which its units are encoded in the writing
system. From the The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Writings
Systems
All writing systems use visible signs with the exception
of the raised notation systems used by blind and
visually impaired people, such as Braille and Moon

In A History of Writing, Steven Roger Fischer argues
that no one definition of writing can cover all the
writing systems that exist and have ever existed.
Instead he states that a 'complete writing' system
should fulfill all the following criteria:

it must have as its purpose communication;
it must consist of artificial graphic marks on a durable
or electronic surface;
it must use marks that relate conventionally to
articulate speech (the systematic arrangement of
significant vocal sounds) or electronic programing in
such a way that communication is achieved.
Purpose of Writing
To entertain
To motivate
To persuade (persuasive writing)
Educational writing
To inform