Writing, like many things, can be approached as art. This isn't a new revelation but I wonder sometimes if industries like journalism, PR, Marketing, and advertising approach their work as if it's art, and treat it with the sacredness that paintings by old masters are.

I've just had a stimulating discussion with a friend who wrote an article about a festival for a local magazine. He got great and heated response to his work. He was excited about the attention he had received, but was aware that his work was a little scathing and not what the festival, his focus, would have wanted.

I read the article; I love his writing style, but I can't say I finished the article feeling all that great. The overall outcome of the article left me.well.I'm not really sure where it left me. On the whole it was a negative read which mocked and poked fun all the way through. I'd like to say it had some relevant points, but I don't think it did. It was well crafted though, a very nice piece of writing.

I asked him what he expected people to feel when they had finished with reading his work. Was there something he wanted people to learn? Something they would feel compelled to do by the end? He said that he hadn't actually thought about how people would feel. He just liked writing and enjoyed the feeling he had of completing an article. This got me thinking.
This guy is an English major at University and was writing for the campus' student newsletter. He's young and still learning about writing in all its forms, so I don't blame him for not thinking about how it would effect his readers. But I guess I'm a little disappointed that his readers weren't considered at the same time.

I ended up asking him how he approached writing in general: what did he think about when planning a piece? The question I asked him, and I ask you is this: How do you want people to respond to your words?

.    Disagree but understand the writer's point, a little upset

I believe that words have the power to bring life or death. Yes, that's a just a touch over dramatic but what I mean is that words have the ability to encourage and discourage, to educate or dumb-down, to support or distract. Words should be chosen carefully like a painter picks each colour and method to paint with. Crafting articles for people to read and not thinking about who reads them is dangerous in the communications game.

When you write, do you think about how your words are crafted? Do you consider the emotional impact they will have on the reader? Do you consider whether your writing will bring life or death to the reader? I'd love to hear your thoughts.