...and
A Few Words to a Young Writer: by Ursula K. le Guin
***
Socrates said, "The misuse of language induces evil
in the soul." He wasn't talking about grammar. To misuse language is
to use it the way politicians and advertisers do, for profit, without
taking responsibility for what the words mean. Language used as a means
to get power or make money goes wrong: it lies. Language used as an
end in itself, to sing a poem or tell a story, goes right, goes towards
the truth.
A writer is a person who cares what words mean, what they say,
how they say it. Writers know words are their way towards truth and
freedom, and so they use them with care, with thought, with fear, with
delight. By using words well they strengthen their souls.
Story-tellers and poets spend their lives learning that skill and art of
using words well. And their words make the souls of their readers
stronger, brighter, deeper.
Beautifully written and a good reminder to use words well, writer or not. Lovely photo too.
ReplyDeletelove these thoughts
ReplyDeleteTwo great quotes. I very much enjoyed reading your poems, Suzy. Definitely "stronger, brighter, deeper" material.
ReplyDeleteThank you Christine!
ReplyDeleteYour encouragment means a lot :)
I really like some of the stuff you say here. I'm working on a post about the quality of a lot of the writing that's on the internet and it touches on some of the same ideas. People are sometimes really irresponsible with their writing.
ReplyDeleteI love this - such words of wisdom which mean a lit to an aspiring writer like me.
ReplyDeleteSarah
http://acatlikecuriosity.blogspot.co.uk
That's truth.
ReplyDelete