Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Writing Worth Reading

I put a lot of thought into what I write. Is it personal enough? Is it witty enough? Is it going to keep people from nodding off mid-paragraph?

But really all of that is secondary to the core of what I'm trying to communicate. The main question is, am I writing what is worthwhile? Because as someone whose written words will land before the eyes of others, I'm solely and soundly responsible for what I say. It's an important responsibility to make sure that what I say in public, whether out loud or on paper, is accurate and morally sound. After all, being able to speak out and be heard is an incredible privilege.

In today's newspaper, I found a great example of using a public voice in an excellent way to say excellent things. The article by Paul Greenberg was incredibly well-written and immensely inspiring; a reminder of what can be communicated with wise words and sound thinking.

When I read something like that, it spurs me on in my endeavors, gives me that little extra spark to not only write and speak diligently, but to live diligently as well.

So to all of you writers who sit at your keyboards every day looking for inspiration, I pray you realize how blessed you are to have the opportunity to be heard. Write carefully. Make what you say worth hearing, and, above all, pleasing to the God who gave you your talent in the first place.

And pray I'm able to do the same.

4 comments:

Lori Stanley Roeleveld said...

Amen! I try to use I Thessalonians 1:3 as one of my inspiration for writing and also try to remember that "from the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks" (or the writer writes). That means I need to bring my heart continually before the Lord to be transformed by Him.

Ethan M. said...

That was an excellent article, and your right! It makes me fired up.

Jennifer Valent said...

Great verse, Lori! Thanks!

Articles like that are a good reminder of what's important, aren't they, Ethan? Wish there were more of them.

Ethan M. said...

So true.