Words unbidden come to fill the space on pages made of white.

The sentence could be shortened, but would it mean the same? A writer speaks utterances that no one dares to think, because the words have meaning that echo through our hearts. No matter how many times you edit a piece, the writer knows the value of the words taking flight.

Because you’re given a message to impart to the world, you should speak it. Write it down and publish those words you’ve worked hard to express, to find, to type into existence.

Often a writer looks at the words written and thinks, I could say that better. And, almost every time, it could be said in fewer words, better than it was said before. But would it mean the same?

As an editor, I have a hard time telling another writer that the way they’ve put the words together should be changed. Their style, their message, their words should be expressed as they say them, because the message belongs to the writer.

Grammar experts sometimes get so caught up in the right way to write that they alienate the meaning of the phrase. The sentence may not have a noun or verb, but does it need one? Stop! You know that line isn’t aimed at your neighbor, you heard it, YOU should do it.

Regardless of the speaker, if the phrase has purpose and value in content, it should stay. Determining the content means understanding the value. More importantly, value determines content and purpose.

As a writer, you have a purpose. You’ve been given a cause and a course of action (yes,  you’re a writer for a reason). Getting your message out is important, no matter what that message is. Someone out there will understand what you’re writing, even if they’ve heard the message a million times before, and NEEDS to hear what you have to say. In order for you to keep sending out your message, you have to make a profit.

You have a responsibility to your audience to be profitable at what you do.

Give your words volume, cause, purpose and value. Make a profit. Speak your words from the deepest part of your existence and allow them to become echoes of the heart.