The Writer’s Heart: Words

The Writer’s Heart: Words

“Oh that my words were now written!

Oh that they were printed in a book!”

Job 19:23, KJV

Is this not the dream, the driving desire of every writer? With the publication of The Nazarene’s Price, my desire became a reality, as it does with every author who holds that first copy in his/her hands.

Within the cover of our work, whether fiction or nonfiction, power to change the world resides by reaching out to the one the words capture. We’ve heard it said,

“The pen is mightier than the sword.”*

Long before this famous quote, the Lord inspired his writers to pen the power of our words.

“The lips of the righteous feed many … 

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life …

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones …

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”**

The author’s tongue finds its expression through the written word. We hold a great responsibility in handling our words carefully.

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.

But I say unto you,

that every idle word that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”

Matthew 12:35,36, KJV

Daunting isn’t it? But the workshops and speakers we listen to at conferences teach us the same concept—except for the judgment of God part. We do learn our words are judged by the publishers and editors as they remind us to make every word count. Each word drives our purpose, our message. Done well the words have the power to change one life at a time through encouragement, hope, feeling as if the reader is not alone, someone understands.

When one is touched by the author’s writing, the writer and the reader become partners in sharing words powerful enough to affect change.

My novel, The Nazarene’s Price, has been out for two months now. Many came to celebrate with me at the book signing. A few have left public reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, a few have been left in comments on my website, but just as important are those who have called to say, “I identified with Matthias and his doubts because of the places I have been,” and “Your book made me feel I was there with those I’ve only ready about before,” or “I’m passing this one on to _________.”

My readers encourage me, and I want to thank them for expressing how my words touched them.

I do remind readers, not only of my work but any author’s work, of the importance of reaching out to others by leaving reviews on Amazon, Goodreads, Bookbub, Barnes and Noble, or other sites. Your words there or by word of mouth serve as a means to others to read books that may speak to their hearts. In this way, the author and the reader share in—

a word well spoken, and seeing another’s life changed.

What book has spoken to your heart?

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*Edward Bulwer Lytton penned the quote after Richelieu spoke them to King Louis XIII. Source, BBC News.

**Proverbs 10:2a;15:4a; 16:24; 18:21,KJV

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