“Loving Words,” New Era, July 2011, 43
Loving Words
A writing assignment in the second grade inspired Elisa Brinton to develop her talent of researching and writing about subjects of interest to her. She continues to explore new ideas and writing styles and appreciates the power of the written word. “I hope that what I write will inspire others to follow their own dreams and passions, whatever they might be.”
How do you think words affect people? It’s often been said that the pen is mightier than the sword, and that’s very true. You can change the world with words. For example, the Declaration of Independence was just words, but look what it led to. Words have an incredible power for good or for evil; you can encourage or destroy someone with words.
Why do you think stories are important? Stories are one of the best ways to learn. For example, scripture stories are powerful and inspirational, and they teach us important things that we need to know.
What have you learned from the experience of writing down your stories? Writing stories and developing characters helps me to get in touch with my own imagination. When I develop the characters I am writing about, I have to adapt to different points of view and write about the way others might think and feel. This helps me to understand people in the real world better because I can put myself in their shoes and appreciate their unique qualities.
Do you feel like your writing is a gift from Heavenly Father? Absolutely. We all have our gifts; there are so many different skills and abilities out there. With some people, it’s music; they may have a beautiful voice or a way with instruments. Others have mathematical minds and can solve complicated equations. Mine is writing. Gifts take time to develop, but the important thing is to find what makes you happy and keep working on improving your skills.
What advice would you give to those who want to start writing but are afraid to? Start writing. You don’t have to show it to anyone else until you’re comfortable with it. Make sure you read, read, read, and read. Reading a wide variety of books helps a lot, because it will broaden your horizons.
Photograph by Sally Johnson Odekirk