“Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become in the hands of one who knows how to combine them.” ~Nathaniel Hawthorne
I love this quote.
Written or spoken words are powerful if strung in the right way.
Words can start a war or dash a hopeful spirit. Words can sting a soul like a thousand bees. Hateful words can humiliate and destroy, permanently harming the heart.
Words can also inspire a nation or heal the ill spirit. Words can renew the soul like the blossoms of spring. Words of love and affection waltz through the passionate heart.
Words can bust open a laugh or bring us to tears.
Don’t we love words?
I sure do.
We as writers can take a few words and turn a world upside down. We can make a character squirm in his seat or fall hopelessly in love. We can drive a character to the edge of a cliff or bring her to her knees, begging forgiveness.
Hawthorne was right.
As a writer, are you a lover of storytelling or words and the craft of writing? What words have inspired you? Do you do word research?
I would love to hear from you.
Between you, me and the gatepost,
Don’t forget to come by next Monday for The History Corner with Eric Huebner, along with my regular post.