The might of the pen
What type of storytelling is older than simple text?
The answer is the spoken word, obviously
But in todays world even the spoken word of a radio play is written down first. Making simple text the most raw format a story can be in. Sometimes all you have is a pen, paper, and an idea. Even with that, a great storyteller can weave magic. So of course we have short stories and web novels. It's all about getting a good story out there.