As far back as our race seems to remember, we have always had appreciation for the written word.

Words are timeless.

Words can make a grown man cry and a cold woman laugh.

Words are intimate.

The written word has the power to sway decisions, to entertain and to convince people of things they’d never believe otherwise.

Words change us.

Writers are among the most revered and influential figures in history, the works of Marx and Hitler sent millions into uproar, while Gandhi and the Dalai Lama convinced countless others to adopt a tranquil life.

Writers seduce the mind.

With the power of the written word at your disposal, a certain responsibility is implied, something like an obligation. One cliché comes especially to mind, “Use your powers to do only good.” To many this may seem ridiculous, and blown grossly out of proportion, but the words don’t have to be taken for their traditional meanings. Writer’s have the responsibility to be compelling, to write from the soul, to write what’s unthinkable, unexpected, controversial, even immoral. The day literature becomes predictable, two-dimensional and stale, is the day the writer has failed his audience, and his one fundamental responsibility.

Dull writing is a sin.

For me, writing was an acquired affection, but has left an incessantly savory taste in me that I could never live without. For many, writing proves to be a way to vent, to get their feelings off their chests and really unwind. I’ve never felt this way. Writing provides me with a challenge, the challenge to fill a page with something beautiful, something to be appreciated and admired. Writing should never be taken lightly, careful consideration should go into every word, nothing should go without intentional meaning.

Writing has purpose.

The difference between someone who writes for fun and a writer is in their way of life. The path of writing is continuous, there should be no end, if you find one, you’ve taken a wrong turn. The writer chooses to follow this path. Writing should be a way of life, a way of thinking. Everyday I look for things to write about: things that intrigue me, make me feel, about people with passion, people with hope and people in despair. The writer is overtly perceptive, and he feels the need to share life with others.

Words have intent.

Human compassion is what makes us vulnerable to the written word. A sense of empathy is what gives a writer the ability to feel and, in turn, give emotion. The art of sewing a world with ink is something that should be celebrated. For as long as we live, we will never see a day without a story, without a storyteller, and without a glimpse into the simple life.

Words inspire living.