When we think about writing as a process, we usually think of putting words on paper, on a computer or any other device one after the other aiming to create sentences that make sense. Well, of course I have no objection to that. The physical act where writing actually takes place is exactly that. So, what do I mean when I say that writing is more than words?
Words and a good use of them are necessary elements of writing. Thus, having a rich vocabulary or simply having the knowledge of making a good use of each word is important. However, in my mind, writing is also about lots of other things.
Allow me to explain myself by listing what are the 5 reasons writing is more than words.
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5 Reasons Writing is More Than Words
1. Writing is More than Words Because it is Also About Thinking
For most writing products, thinking before you write about what you are going to write is a process you cannot ignore. We need to think about what we are going to write about, how we are going to write it, and what we want to accomplish through our writing.
Writing provides you also the chance to influence your readers. By sharing your ideas through writing, you can change the way your readers think about the world, life, and themselves. Readers can understand the difference that new ideas and ways of thinking can bring into their lives.
Even if sometimes ideas are in contradiction with what they thought until that point, once you can talk to something inside them and get your message through, they will be in it.
So, when I say that writing is about thinking, this involves two different things. The thinking process before, during, and after writing and what can come out of the final written product in terms of how it can affect its readers and the way they think.
“Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That’s why it’s so hard.”
David McCullough
Read also: Tips That Will Help You Get a Good Writing Flow
2. Writing is More than Words Because it is Also About Discipline
To write until you complete a writing project is not an easy process. You may ask whoever tries to finish a novel. Writing is about convincing yourself to sit and write even if you don’t feel like it. Even if you have no inspiration or the courage to do so.
Writing is a long-term commitment and to pull it through, you must have the discipline to commit yourself to it day after day until you complete something meaningful. And even then, it does not mean that anything ends. Not at all. You just write and keep on hoping that someone will get interested in it and read it. But it might never happen and yet you must continue writing as if everyone expects you to create a new masterpiece.
To write, you must accept failure and yet still have the discipline and guts to carry on.
“The discipline of writing something down is the first step toward making it happen.”
Lee Iacocca
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3. Writing is About Impacting The World
Good writing can affect the world. In fact, writing can change the world. Any form of writing. Think about it. Throughout human history, lots of books were marked as heretics. The Nazis would burn books because they were afraid of their power.
Think about Marx and the philosophy of Communism. You may also think about all the science fiction books and the inventions that came out due to them. Think of George Orwell and 1984. How many similarities can you identify with the world now?
To name a few of the means by which writing impacts this world, I would say through the ideas shared, persuasion, and imagination.
“The purpose of a writer is to keep civilization from destroying itself.”
Albert Camus
Read also: 12 Useful Tips to Empower Your Writing Skills
4. Writing is About Understanding
When I talk about understanding, I mean understanding yourself, your emotions, and your needs. But not only, writing is also about understanding other people, their feelings, and reactions. It is even about understanding the world a little more.
Through writing, you process everything differently. When writing, you can constantly ask yourself why. While trying to provide answers to these questions, you may have a better understanding of everything.
“As a writer, you should not judge, you should understand.”
Ernest Hemingway
5. Writing is About Helping Thoughts Become Clearer
Apart from understanding, sometimes when you have many things in your mind, you get frustrated. You feel like there is a war taking place inside your head. Writing can help in clearing out your thoughts by putting them in some order and showing you the way out of frustration.
Even the physical act of giving permission to your thoughts to exist somewhere else than just inside your head can lift a weight off your shoulders. Those thoughts stop dancing around. They get shaped and transformed into something you can deal with.
Having a clear thought can definitely lead to a more stress-free version of yourself.
“Words are a lens to focus one’s mind.”
Ayn Rand
Read also: 6 Most Important Steps to Self Editing Your Blog Posts
Final thoughts on Why Writing is More Than Words
To sum up, words are the basic elements of writing. However, writing is all about thinking. About making you as a writer think and about making your readers think too. Writing is also about teaching you discipline and commitment.
Written products have affected this world and even were the starting points of revolutions.
Through writing, you understand yourself, others, and the world better. Writing can finally help you win the war of thoughts inside your mind.
“A word after a word after a word is power.”
Margaret Atwood
“I can shake off everything as I write; my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.”
Anne Frank
Read also: 8 Practical Ideas on How to Effectively Develop a Writing Schedule
These are just some reasons that make me believe that writing is more than words.
What do you think? What other reasons can you think that make writing be more than words?
I would love to read your thoughts in the comments below.
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Totally agree with all of these points. For me, writing is also about creating connections between people. As a blogger, I love engaging with readers through thoughtful comments. I think the same can be said for any form of writing. It’s about the conversation it inspires.
I can’t agree more with you Michelle. Definitely writing is about the conversation it inspires between the readers and not only. There is always the conversation between the writer and the reader. And it stands to all forms of writing. Maybe when I update tgis post I will make an additional with your point and mention of you of course 🙂 thank you for this comment!
All great reasons. Writing gives you immense clarity. The more I write the clearer I get not only online, but offline, too.
Ryan
Exactly Ryan. Thank you so much for commenting 🙂
Excellent post! I totally agree. I would like to add another thing to the list. As I try to help others in society with my writing, I find that in sharing and teaching others, I learn myself as well.
I definitely agree with you. The same standa for me also. While doing my research before writing each post I always learn new things. Thank you for reading and commenting!
I agree with you, the word we write can make an impact on someone’s life. Great reasons!
Thank you Frank!
True! Writing is about more than words. It’s about what in the mind and heart. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you Fadima ❤️
Awesome points. & I agree writing is all of this and more. I also love that quote by Anne Frank about shaking off all worries when you write — because that is how it feels. Writing is like reading a book in that you can get lost in your own world.. only it is a world of your own making & you are the creator
You couldn’t say it better Helen. I feel like that too! Thank you so much for reading and commenting 🙂
One of our closest friends once told us that people should not write just to say something, but rather because they have SOMETHING TO SAY. We agree with that sentiment wholeheartedly, and this post reminded us about why we write: to impact the world in a beneficial way, to push through all the bullshit out there. Thank you for sharing this great post!
Thank you so much! I wrote this post because I also wanted to remind myself the reasons why I write and I am glad the outcome had the same effect on you also 🙂
This is a really lovely post! I definitely agree that a lot of different types of thought going into writing, and I always find it invaluable for clearing my mind – particularly calming myself down when I’m stressed. Thank you so much for sharing!
Glad you liked it. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
This is such a great post! All your points are totally true! For me writing is more than words because that is my way to express myself. I am not really good in conversation with people, but putting my thoughts into words is something I have always been good at! That is why enjoy being a blogger!
Definitely writing is a great way of expressing thoughts, emotions and feelings. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Writing is so magical and powerful. I agree with all of these.
Thank you Jamie!
You’re spot on the aspects and impact of writing. The process of putting together thoughts into words is what writers live for. Writing discipline is something I struggle with. This is a nice article.
Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Totally agree, writing gives you clarity, it’s powerful and impactful. The process of unending writing makes it tedious but writing must continue. Thanks for sharing. Love your blog
Thank you so much Rayo! 💜💜
Totally agree with these, but there’s so much more, ultimately coming down to communication.
Writing is an ultimate form of communication Emma, so, how could it be otherwise. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Great post and I totally agree. Writing is SO much more than words; it’s about connection and emotion too. That’s why I love it so much!
Glad you liked it Jenny! Thank you for commenting 🙂
Lovely piece! The very reasons why I can’t bring myself to stop writing from day to day. Thanks for sharing this xx
That is great! Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
This is really interesting, and I completely agree. Thank you for sharing 🙂 x
Thank you Eleanor!
Writing, a form of escapism for me.
It is an escape from reality Indeed 🙂
What a truly beautiful and profound way to look at writing! I absolutely loved reading this. I actually feel very similarly when it comes to reading as well – and of course, those two things go hand-in-hand! It was such a pleasure to read this and learn how you view writing and how it can really impact the rest of the world in so many ways.
Thank you for commenting Stephanie 😊
Yes, yes, yes, and YES! I love this list, as it so wonderfully shares several of the reasons why I write. I write to inform, I write to awaken, and I write to empower. 🙂
Thank you ❣️ and thank you Jaya ❤️💜
Thanks for posting! I love the idea of writing as a discipline and thought organizer. I belive writing in any form consistently whether it’s a blog, creative, or personal (journal), you develop a discipline and clarity of language.
Yes, I definitely agree with you Drew. Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Totally agree with a lot of this, but especially that writing helps understanding.a lot of my writing – particularly my poetry – helps me make sense of things that have burdened me for far too long.
Great read. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
Great points – writing is a powerful tool!!!
Thank you!
SO TRUE that writing is about discipline. It’s easy to write when you feel inspired, but sometimes you have to force yourself to do the work.
Exactly! Thank you for reading and commenting 🙂
What a wonderful post. Writing is definitely so much more than words. I love that you’ve included impacting the world, discipline, and understanding. I also loved the quotes that you’ve shared. 🙂
Thank you so much 💗
I truly think discipline is one of the biggest differences between words and writing. Anyone can put words on a paper, only someone with dedication can turn it into writing!
I definitely agree with you! Thank you for commenting!
This was a great article to read. Believe it or not, most of my writing takes place while I’m walking or taking a shower. Later, those thoughts are converted into the words. But if I didn’t have that mental writing, I probably wouldn’t write anything.
Paul Graham, an essayist who writes about programming and writing, talks about how to understand something, you need to write. Because when you begin to write, you understand that you thought that you understood something completely, but in reality, your understanding is shallow.
I’m blind, so I write about a lot of blind related things. I often think to myself, «Who will read it?» But when people comment about how they are glad to learn these things, it often gives me a warm feeling.
This was definitely an interesting insight. I have noticed myself that when I am stuck with some of my writing, taking time of my writing by thinking how I could proceed is also another form of writing. Thank you for this comment 😊
Beautiful post specially for someone passionate about writing. It can definitely bring a message of change.
I am glad you liked it. Thank you for commenting ❤️
Insightful observations on the writing life. I spend so much time thinking about what I’m going to write. I hope some of my words have a positive impact on somebody.
Thank you for reading and commenting!
This is so true! The easiest bit about writing is the actual writing. For me finding the time / discipline as well as thinking up content ideas are the hardest things to do. I nodded along with so much of this.
Claire
http://www.clairemac.co.uk
I am glad you could relate yourself on this one Claire. Thank you for commenting ❤️
This is a great blog post. You have shared some great impacts that writing can have. Thank you for sharing your post.
Lauren x
Thank you Lauren!
Wonderful post I wholeheartedly agree with everything you wrote. Awesome! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Andrea!
Yes, understanding is one of the biggest benefits of writing. Thank you for commenting 🙂
Thanks for sharing, any form of writing can be a form of therapy and that why we need to stop putting pressure on ourselves to do more or plan more.
I definitely agree with you! No matter what I write I try to take my time and enjoy the process. It is therapeutic indeed. Thank you for commenting!
Thank you for your post. It is inspiring as always, especially point 5 speaks to me at this moment.
Thank you Benny!