How Alexander Hamilton Wrote His Way to the Top

Advice for writers: the pen is mightier than the sword

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Alexander Hamilton was many things — an immigrant, a soldier, a Founding Father — but first and foremost, he was a writer.

Writing was Hamilton’s weapon of choice. He was incredibly prolific. After he died, his wife spent much of her life organizing her husband’s papers and preserving his legacy.

Hamilton’s writing is what allowed him to rise up out of obscurity and make a name for himself in America.

When Lin Manuel-Miranda picked up Hamilton’s biography, he was moved by Hamilton’s story — this was a man who’d embodied the American dream. And Miranda, coming from a background in theatre, heard Hamilton’s voice through music.

The genre that best suited the “non-stop” writer? Hip hop, of course… lyrics packed with content, and a pace to match Hamilton’s relentless energy.

“He was born a penniless orphan in St Croix, of illegitimate birth, he became George Washington’s right-hand man, became treasury secretary, caught beef with every other founding father… and all on the strength of his writing. I think he embodies word’s ability to make a difference.” ~ Lin Manuel-Miranda

In the song “Hurricane,” Hamilton thinks back on the times writing gave him an “out” and shaped his future. Lin Manuel-Miranda, as Hamilton, sings:

“I wrote my way out of hell. I wrote my way to revolution. I was louder than the crack in the bell. I wrote Eliza love letters until she fell. I wrote about the Constitution and defended it well. And in the face of ignorance and resistance, I wrote financial systems into existence. And when my prayers to God were met with indifference, I picked up a pen, and I wrote my own deliverance.” ~ Alexander Hamilton, “Hurricane”

Our words have power. The ability to organize your thoughts on paper in a way that influences or incites others to action is a gift. As writers, we carry enormous responsibility.

There are so many ways your writing can make a difference. Let’s look at some of the pivotal moments in Hamilton’s life in which his writing helped shape…