Writing’s Power to Change Minds and Inspire Action

The importance of writing is less in what content is being expressed, and more in its ability to connect with individuals, either just on a surface level or much deeper. Whether it’s through a person’s speech that touches thousands of people, or through a three-line poem that resonates with just one person, writing holds an important role in our world. More specifically, authentic writing has the power to influence opinions and motivate people to act because it connects emotionally, as well as intellectually.

When it comes to emotionally connecting with a piece of writing, a large part of this is feeling empathy. For example, nonfiction and fiction literature both have drastic differences, but their similarities lie in their respective abilities to allow a person to either connect through relatability or connect through the exact opposite. When reading nonfiction, whether the purpose is to inform on an academic platform or to educate based on personal experiences, that information expressed allows readers to adapt it to their lives, connecting them on a more profound level. In terms of fiction, from a good story in a mystical land to just a situation that is far from the reader’s personal reality, that information can still be translated into their day to day lives. When a person falls in love with a story, it doesn’t just have to be because they enjoyed themselves, but it is mostly because they fall in love with the words on paper. Emotion is a large part of consuming literature, either from an academic standpoint that is accompanied by the excitement of learning, to an entertainment standpoint that’s coupled with the clarity that comes with understanding multi-faceted characters. Feeling these sorts of emotions helps readers understand these pieces of writing from a deeper perspective, in turn opening them up to new ideas in the long run.

On a different note, while emotional connection is important and still a powerful factor, the influence of logic, facts, and reasoning cannot go unnoticed when mentioning the power of writing. Writing alone holds the ability to permanently challenge ideas, while simultaneously introducing new perspectives. The importance of this ability is less in the fact that new ideas can be expressed, but more in the fact that it can do all this while still providing readers with a strong level of understanding. Writing helps individuals understand complex issues, and a person’s ability to do so relies heavily on what method of communication works best for them. Some people respond better to arguments driven by logic, while others need straight evidence and hard facts, and many need an infusion of all three. The power of writing comes from it being able to cater to all of these different needs, all under the figurative umbrella of persuasion. For example, articles like opinion pieces are literature expressing a writer’s viewpoint, but the validity in their argument is only as strong as their evidence and manner of explaining. These types of articles regularly use logic and facts to explain their point while simultaneously shutting down opposing views.

Separately but still following the same train of thought, it is this type of writing that can be especially effective when utilized to influence the world. Not only is it useful when writers want to express their personal view points, but it is also useful for giving a voice to those that don’t have one, and even bringing to light issues that may only affect a small portion of our population. Writing has always played a central role in movements for social justice, reform, and just overall public awareness, mostly because of its ability to spur change with just a few carefully worded sentences. The beauty of this form of expression is that whether it is an article in a major newspaper reaching thousands or just someone’s weekly blog post with just 10 subscribers, writing always has the potential to change the life of whoever reads it.

In the end, writing is less about just words, but more about how those simple words can connect with anyone. Whether it’s through a simple story like a fairytale, or an analytical article on the state of the world, the beauty of writing is that someone will always relate. Someone will connect, someone will resonate with it, and someone will hold on to the way you have expressed yourself for years to come; even if it is just one person.

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ABOUT ELAHE

Elahe Zandy is 16 years old and a 10th grade student at Centner Academy. Her interest in journalism comes from an overall love for writing and expressing her thoughts on paper, as well as just a passion for learning about what is going on in the world. Last year, she had her first experience in the competitive world of writing, since she participated in the Emmerse Essay Competition, resulting in winning a scholarship for a summer program. Being a part of the Centner Academy journalism program has been a great experience to understand all the different aspects of the profession and the importance of news. In addition to enjoying writing, Elahe spends her time playing on the Centner Academy Tennis Team and co-chairing the Field Trip Fundraising Club.