Power in Words?

I am a writer.  However, sometimes I sit at my desk and stare at the screen, my thoughts fluttering about in a disarray.  I begin to have doubts about my abilities, my life, and what meaning I even hold to anyone, let alone myself.  I begin to shrivel up and cower away from words, like a cat terrified of a new place.

But eventually, I have to crawl out of that headspace, just like my cat, Quark eventually crawled out from behind the toilet and came to realize this new place was safe and healthy. 

My own writing is safe and healthy. Words are not terrifying and are just tools.  But sometimes it’s the power you wield when you unleash words onto paper that can utterly strike you speechless. When you realize that your words can influence others, that your actions have an affect on those around you.  You don’t live in a vacuum, but everything you say, write, and do affects the world in which you live.  For every action there is a reaction, as the third law of Newtonian mechanics says. It’s incredibly true in all regards, for every aspect of life.  

There is power in words.  The old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” is incredibly false.  Words can sometimes be even more powerful than the sword.  Some of the most influential people in history, weren’t influential because of their prowess in battle, but because of how well they spoke. They were the great orators, the storytellers, and they left a lasting impact on the current and future generations – for ill or good.

So yes, writing can be a momentous task, but at the same time, it must be done, for the words you wield holds power.  It is the words of your life, your story, and your thoughts. It how you reflect society back at itself through your carefully woven fictional tales.  It’s how you analyze our world and show the problems we have, and possible solutions, whether through fiction or some other form of writing.  Those ideas seep through the minds of others, inspiring, causing dread, and sometimes fear and/or joy or pain. 

Don’t cower from your gift, but grow through that fear and let the words flow.  Just remember to not use the power for ill, but for the betterment of yourself and our world. 

P.S. If you still find you can’t write, then just open up a word document, close your eyes, and type whatever comes to your mind. You may just surprise yourself with what flows forth from the depths of your imagination.