When Writing Changes Someone’s Mood
April 10th, 2000 Posted in WritingYou know it’s good when it captures someone’s attention. When it mesmerizes them. When it changes their mood for the entire day. The power to change someone’s day. You really have something when you can do that. Today I listened to fellow students reading selections from essays they had written. A couple of them were beautiful. I closed my eyes and listened to their every word, even the ones they stumbled over. I could picture the scene, I could see everything they were describing in perfect detail. I was there. It really changed my mood today. I walked back to my dorm yearning to give something in return to these students. They had blessed me with their work and I wanted to be able to help them in some way. Being a writer myself I recognized their talent. In a sense I was jealous of it and the attention it brought them. But at the same time I so wanted to help them. I know what it feels like to have a work sit in a drawer and go unread.
There’s something about the power of words. So often I feel like I don’t understand it at all, like I’m such a rookie writer, like I just don’t have what it takes. At those times when I read something or hear something like I did today, I just want to be close to that talent. I somehow want to position myself near that skill. I want others to see what I’ve seen. I want others to see another world.
