The Power of Words
Why do we write?
I’m African-American. I grew up in a part of the City of Pittsburgh that use to be called the “ghetto”. It was a neighborhood of mainly African-American families. My father worked in a steel mill and my mother was a home maker. I had three brothers and three sisters. I was the oldest son. My family was definitely a working-class family.
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I was a good student in high school. My favorite subject was history. At home, I would go to my room in the attic and read my history books for fun. I loved doing my history homework. I was the teacher’s pet. Any time an exam was given, I was usually one of the first ones done and I always got an A. Of course, the reason I loved history was because it told a story. History is probably why I became a writer. I wanted to tell stories, too.
When I read history, the words took me to places beyond the ghetto. In my imagination, I met kings and queens, generals and spies. The words set my imagination on fire. History opened the world to me. I wanted to learn how to use words, too. I had to be a writer.
I wanted to learn to use words to take other people into the lives of the characters in my flash fiction stories. I wanted to entice the imagination of my readers the way history had enticed my imagination.
Words are powerful instruments. They take us out of ourselves and connect us to other people in other places. Words can be a source of inspiration. When we write articles for Triond or for other sites, we writers open up the world for ourselves and for others. This is what writing can do.
The content that our words create gives voice to the human community.
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Tags: articles, content, create, Flash fiction, history, imagination, Inspiration, Pittsburgh, triond, words, write, writer, Writing
29 Responses to “The Power of Words”
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September 11th, 2009 at 3:29 am
Good one. Without words where would sentences be?
September 11th, 2009 at 3:30 am
Yes, words are indeed a powerful medium.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:33 am
I’d be willing to bet that this is why cavemen, as primitive as they were, had such beautiful cave paintings, grunts and chirps just didn’t suffice. The need to express what’s beautiful and interesting to us is probably the oldest and most uniquely defining quality of the human creature.
September 11th, 2009 at 5:44 am
Great inspiring article! I enjoyed it very much.
September 11th, 2009 at 6:52 am
This was a well written article. Words have so many uses that most people don’t take into account. They can comfort or be used as weapons.
September 11th, 2009 at 9:53 am
“And the Word became flesh…” To me that says it all, how important and powerful the word (sound) is.
September 11th, 2009 at 10:51 am
Words are really powerful and they can create any sort of emotion in you, happiness, sadness or love. A really good article and such an important and true message.
September 11th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
Word do make a difference in
September 11th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
ken, very true. And where would a lot of other things be? Can you imagine humankind without words? I guess it was all sounds and sign language.
September 11th, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Melody, I guess some of my high school classmates thought I was too much into books but I liked sports, too. Anyway, I did love history and I still do.
September 11th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
ducroisjosef, I could not have said it better myself. Image is everything because an image says much more, represents much more than just itself: like a hand print on a cave wall or like a word. Both are symbols that represent more, much more than themselves.
September 11th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
Mrs. Heart, where would we writers be without words? I guess we would have to all become painters which I know would definitely not work for me.
September 11th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
well written article good read
September 12th, 2009 at 9:09 am
Tlchimes, they can comfort or be used as a weapon. Words cover a lot of ground. Many would argue that writing is humankind’s greatest invention.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:15 am
Marie, I’m sure you also know the saying, In the beginning was the word.
Try to imagine the world without writing. It’s impossible.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:20 am
Atikin, it’s because of the power of words to do good that makes me proud and happy to be a writer.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:24 am
royee, yes words can make a difference. Words can create community and inspire to action. Words can set hearts and minds on fire.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:24 am
royee, yes words can make a difference. Words can create community and inspire to action. Words can set hearts and minds on fire.
September 12th, 2009 at 9:28 am
KitKat, thank you. Learner how to use words well can be a life long goal. I’m never bored.
September 13th, 2009 at 1:00 am
I didn’t learn to appreciate and love history until I got to college. I think it was because of the way it was taught in the schools I attended. It wasn’t about the stories, but instead about facts and dates to memorize. I enjoyed your article very much because you eloquently describe how history can open us up to other realms of possibility by setting our imaginations on fire.
September 13th, 2009 at 3:56 pm
WriteEditSeek, history for me was also about memorizing facts and dates. For me they were important parts of the stories. I enjoyed everything about history.
September 15th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
You’ve clearly demonstrated the “Power of words” LIke Luther Martin King” giving a great speech which literally persuaded a whole race!
You have the power!
September 16th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Yes, it is a good observation. Powerful words can make lot of changes in our life both positive and negative.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:14 am
mzmax100, I could not have said it better myself. We writers have a great responsibility and a great opportunity.
September 16th, 2009 at 9:19 am
Gijo, as writers we can do a lot of good or bad. We can do a lot of good or bad right here in the Triond Community.
September 17th, 2009 at 9:56 pm
Besides gestures, we use words to convey our message. You are what you think and what you speak.
September 18th, 2009 at 9:39 am
beth811, I agree with you that we are what we think and what we speak. Words are very much part of the thinking, speaking process.
September 28th, 2009 at 1:55 am
Your words are especially powerful
September 28th, 2009 at 10:28 am
chitragopi, words can do so many things, good and bad. I hope my words do some good things. Being a writer is a good thing.