Words: The building blocks of writing.

All writers face the 'blank page' dilemma at some point. Having decided to create this website, I now have to write my first blog post. All the advice I've read emphasises the importance of blogs as a way of connecting with potential or actual readers. So here goes...

So, David, what are you waiting for?

Well, er, inspiration I suppose. Maybe if I sit here long enough, something will emerge, A topic that is so gripping that you won't fail to be impressed, I hope you're not in a hurry. 

I know! The keystone for all writers is words. Why not write about words, David?

Words? Is that all you come up with? Sounds a bit vague to me.

Where would writers be without words.? Where would we all be without words? To think that twenty-six letters can be arranged and rearranged to form a structure which gives meaning to those letters.  Makes you think eh?

Suppose so, yes.

Pick up any dictionary (yes, I'm old school) and open at any page. Words. Lots of them. Comprising different letters and different lengths - and most important - different meanings. And yet, we take them for granted. Unless you study linguistics or something similar, words come and go through our daily lives without causing too much trouble. Spoken or written. Just words.

But, some words can have a profound effect. Some words can be profoundly offensive. Combined in to sentences, words carry messages. Messages which convey opinions, or encourage us to buy something. Or maybe to impart information, or to provide instructions. Or, words can be used to tell a story.

Storytelling is a massive part of the human condition, From a very early age, we have stories read to us. Later, we read stories ourselves. We hear stories from other people. Stories provide us with context about people's lives. They help us to understand different experiences, perhaps developing a sense of empathy.

I recall a friend who had quite negative opinions about refugees and asylum seekers, I recommended that he read 'The Beekeeper of Aleppo' - a harrowing story of refugees fleeing war-torn Syria. The story changed his opinion.

The power of words.

Share your thoughts below about words. Do you have a favourite word, or phrase? Which words do you dislike? 

DW 27.02.26