Let’s Write to Change the World

by Tammy Karasek @TickledPinkTam

At the beginning of each year, I write down a question in my planner above the list of writing goals: How will you write this year to change the world?

I want to look beyond the word counts and the story structure. I know both of those are important. But I want my goal to write to be more than just entertainment for a reader. Whether the reader finds my written thoughts within a book or blog post, I desire a better purpose for any words I write that make their way into the world somewhere. 

As I pray through that thought, I strive to follow these four statements below to line up what I’m writing this year, no matter where my work lands. Maybe they will help you, too. 

• Write to Educate. Will the piece I’m working on teach something to my reader? As they read my words, will it assist them to learn something new and beneficial they can use in their own lives? Maybe a new skill, book to read or a system to try.

• Write to Inspire. My current works in progress talk a lot about cooking. Can I offer a recipe or technique within the story that my reader would be able to try at home to help get them excited to cook. Often people aren’t brave enough to try something, but I can use my words to take a little of the fear away. 

• Write to Encourage. We all need to be encouraged. I need to use my words wisely to lift up and edify those who read them. In fiction, I can write that through dialog between my characters. In articles and blog posts I can show kindness by sharing happy quotes, funny stories and reasons to smile. I can be a light on Social Media channels that shares the positive in life, instead of what they sometimes do lately.

• Write to Show People Jesus. While I write my story, have my characters live out a Christian life that can draw people to Jesus rather than push Him away. Don’t give a sermon through dialog, but rather have the characters speak to one another on deep topics just like I’d speak to someone about Jesus in a regular conversation. Let my words be strong enough without preaching, that the reader ponders on them long after they have set my book down. 

This is the list I’m using this year to check my writing in an effort to help change the world. If I can help spread kindness and joy in the words that I write, then I believe I’ve done a little part to help make a better place for us all. What would you add to this list?

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You’ll find Tammy using humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. She’s gone from down and defeated from a past filled with bullying and criticism from family to living a Tickled Pink life as she believes there is always a giggle wanting to come out! All because of HIM.

She’s the Social Media Coordinator for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. President of ACFW Upstate SC, Past-President and current member of Word Weavers Upstate SC and Past-President of Cross N Pens Writers Group. She’s a member of My Book Therapy/Novel Academy. A writing team member for The Write Conversation, contributor for the Learn How to Write a Novel Blog and others. Published in the Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments.

She’s married to her college sweetheart Larry, a mom to their grown daughter, Kristen and excited to add a son-in-law in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, she now lives in South Carolina. Connect with Tammy at HTTPS://TAMMYKARASEK.COM.