Use Your Writing to Inspire

From Writerslife.org:

Writers write for many different reasons. Some do it purely because they feel they have a piece of writing inside them that wants to come out, others do it because they want people to understand their stories, and some do it because they want their writing to help other people.

Whatever your reasons for doing it, an excellent piece of writing has to connect with your readers. There are just as many reasons that readers read as there are reasons why writers write. However, most people will tell you their favourite book moved them, inspired them or influenced them in some way.

Writing is an influential tool, and writers who do see their work read by lots of people have the power to use their writing to get a message across, to motivate people to act or to change their way of looking at things.

When we embark on a new piece of writing, whatever it may be, it is important to think about how it will be received. You may wish to shock your reader, to anger them, to make them laugh or cry - but having a firm idea of how you would like to or have intended for them to react will help to shape your piece and make you consider how you hope to evoke that reaction as your story progresses.

Of course, inspiration takes many different forms. You don’t have to ensure all your stories have an underlying message to end world hunger or create world peace! However, the knowledge that your writing does have a moral, a purpose, and could potentially reach out to someone and make them think they are not alone, or that they are a little bit more understood, or inspire them to be more generous, kinder, or braver - that can be a beautiful thing.

There are many devices writers can use to inspire their readers:

The aspirational protagonist. Readers love an inspiring hero or heroine. Someone who demonstrates all the qualities they would love to have themselves. Bravery, fearlessness, compassion, kindness, generosity and so much more - a protagonist who we fall in love with can influence readers to act more like them.

Overcoming of obstacles

In every story, the protagonist has to overcome a series of obstacles to achieve their goal. Persevering when all is lost, facing their biggest fears, refusing to give up - all these are common traits in many stories and inspire the reader to do the same with their own lives.

Use of emotion

The better you are at writing emotion, the more poignant, inspiring, exciting, heartbreaking, exhilarating, and nail-biting your book will be. A great writer is a master at perfectly capturing emotion, and when we read these beautifully written pieces, they can touch us, motivate us, comfort us and make us see things in a different light.

The ability to relate

Sometimes when we read a story, it truly moves us, as if it was written for us personally. People want to feel as though they are not alone and being able to relate to your characters and understand their passions, their loves, their joy, and their pain, can be incredibly inspiring indeed.

Being brave in your writing choices

Remember, some of the most inspirational writing has come from writers who have dared to focus on subjects that most would not. Being genuinely expressive and brave when it comes to your writing means you are more likely to truly reach out to people and inspire them in so many different ways.

By thinking about how you can inspire your readers with your writing you are not only adding another dimension to your work but also are likely to make your writing better too. People want to be inspired. They want to read stories that move them and change them and make them think differently about people or the world around them. So next time you write a story, think about what a difference you can make, how you can influence others and what positive changes you can bring to people’s lives. Impactful, empowered writing that truly speaks to your readers is the best sort of writing after all.

Having been inspired by another writer to write on the subject of depression and Prozac, I now hope to get my story published hopes of possibly inspiring others to do the same. The ability to relate was one thing that made me want to write  my story. Others no doubt have gone through the same thing, but with different circumstances. Even so, they might feel they the story was written for them personally, as it says in the paragraph above.  I seemed to have been thinking this way all along. That being said, I want even more for my memoir to see the light, even if it means trying to self-publish it.  

As I said earlier this week, I was told by my instructor that my story did not seem ready for publishing, but that the decisions a bout when I think it's done and ready are mine to make. I still haven't gotten back to the story, but am hoping to. I've just been too tired this week, what with the time change. That always exhausts me easily. But when I feel up to, I will get back to my writing, either the memoir or the novel, or even something else, if I should think of something new. I've read some fairy tale retelling and now I feel I want to try one myself.