Because:

Writing can help yourself, others around you and the world at large.

There will always be an excess of readers in the world, but not always enough people to tell the stories. That’s where writers come in. They have the wonderful skill to manipulate words to convey their message, whether it be recounting their awesome experiences, giving helpful advice and tips, or even stating their opinion about an important social issue. Writers are the first step to getting the word out to the world  – literally.

The first reason we need writers is to help ourselves, how do we do that though?

I believe everyone has an Inner Writer, a voice inside their head that just wants to express themselves. For me, I didn’t find that Inner Writer until I was 13, when I started my own little blog. I didn’t have a clear motivation in mind besides wanting to figure out who I was. When you start acknowledging your Inner Writer and nurture it, you’ll discover a lot about yourself:  

1. Writing can help archive your personal memories so you can look back many years later
2. Writing can help convey your ideas on paper, that you can’t as easily say out loud
3. Writing can help find wisdom in your daily lives through introspection

Memories don’t last forever and it’s valuable to archive it somehow for future reference. Sometimes it’s through words, but it can also be through pictures, video and so on. Now that you’ve converted that intangible memory into something physical, you can always reflect on it and relive the precious memories of your younger self.

I am bad at talking. If you’re like me, you might prefer to jot your ideas on paper and present it that way. You can explore your ideas deeper that way and you have time to edit and refine, unlike when you’re speaking it. It’s a good way to develop our Inner Voice beyond our regular voices.

Our lives are awesome and sometimes not so awesome. Regardless, I have realized that writing about your own life helps to celebrate your own achievements, but also gain wisdom from the challenges you face. Every day is like a new page in the story of your life, but sometimes they go unwritten. There is something to learn each day if you look closely.

Through words, writers have the power to help those around them, how though?

The above painting is actually something my wonderful friend created because she was impacted by my writing. The words come from one of our conversations where I was talking to her about her significance to me. Although some may view writing as squiggles and dots, I have realized that writing has the ability to be a helping hand during times of need:

1. Writing can help provide advice and support for those going through tough times 
2. Writing can help people escape their worries by jumping down the rabbit hole 
3. Writing can help make others think and feel

Cheer up, life will get better. No matter what stage of life we’re in, there will always be struggles for us to overcome. You may not realize it, but when you’re giving your close friends some words of advice, you’re actually doing a form of writing. You’re converting your inner thoughts and projecting it out to help others. Sometimes a simple “Hello” or “I’m there for you if you ever need it,” goes a long way.

Writing can unlock the door to other worlds.  The great writers out there have the magical skill to create a whole new world from their imagination. I’ve ventured through the lands of Middle Earth, roamed the halls of Hogwarts and fought for my life in the Hunger Games. Through words, you also have the ability to whisk others away from reality and to forget their worries for a while.

What is life? My friends often joke about how I am so philosophical, always pondering about the world around me. Asking these types of questions through writing is a way to get the gears turning in someone else’s mind. Are you happy? What’s wrong? Why? On the same topic, writing can make people feel. Words can move people to tears and make them laugh – that’s why it’s so powerful.

Lastly, writers can make the whole world a better place for everyone, how though?

If you haven’t discovered your Inner Writer yet or even if you have, I’m going to provide some ways for you to use writing towards good. Above is a poster for Write for Rights, an Amnesty International campaign that encourages people to write letters for change . Each of the above portraits are of cases of people who had their humans rights violated. As a writer, you can voice your opinions against these issues and Amnesty International will relay them to the appropriate government officials. It is with this collective teamwork that these issues are resolved and the world is made a better place.

How else can writing help the world at large?

1. Writing can help inspire those around you to take positive action
2. Writing can help save people’s lives
3. Writing can help get the word out about what’s important to you

Write for Rights is a prime example of that, but certainly not the only one. I read lots of inspiring literature each day that motivates me give back more to the community. One of the blogs being 11-year old Hannah Porter’s Blog: www.callmehannah.ca, where she writes about her experiences being a Free the Children speaker. I’m sure you can find some inspiration too from hearing about this young advocate.

It may sound cheesy, but I believe can save people’s lives. I have been in situations where I have been the deciding factor between people continuing down a dark path in their lives and for them to see the light. There are many writers out there who have done incredible things to help others. One that sticks out to me is the story of The Freedom Writers: The real life tale of a teacher connected with a class who didn’t even like school – how? Through writing.

Writing gets the word out about important topics. The whole Youth Are Awesome website is a treasure trove of articles that provide information, celebrate achievements, and analyse the world around us. It’s wonderful to see other young writers who are so passionate about their craft and trying to connect with the world around them. Everyone has a story to tell and things they care about, why not write about them? You too can start your own blog on this online platform: wordpress.com 

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We need writers because writing can help yourself, others around you and the world at large.

If you’re already a writer, I urge you to continue writing!

If you’re not a writer, perhaps today is the day you start sharing you story with the world.