Or as the late US radio host Bernard C. Meltzer is believed to have said:
“Before you speak ask yourself if what you are going to say is true, is kind, is necessary, is helpful. If the answer is no, maybe what you are about to say should be left unsaid.”
Now what if you think before you write? I suppose it’d unfold like this:
Before you write, ask yourself if what you’re about to pen is a good story idea, makes sense, is necessary, and helpful for your readers. If the answer is no, maybe what you’re about to write should be left unwritten.
In these times of more writers and fewer readers, and trigger-happy social media posts, it might be prudent and logical to write when you have something really meaningful to share.
In truth, you may not have a writing rule or you may not know when to give voice to your thoughts, but you certainly ought to write whenever you have a sudden burst of creativity, you feel inspired to write, you have something informative or insightful to share, you want a cathartic experience or when you think you can entertain or offer value to the readers.
Dashiell Hammett, a noted American writer of hard-boiled detective fiction, put the personal writing journey into perspective: “If you have a story that seems worth telling, and you think you can tell it worthily, then the thing for you to do is to tell it,” he said.
Writing, akin to other creative outlets like the visual arts, music, dance, acting, theatre and cooking, is a remarkable way to contribute positively to your own life and the lives of others. It helps you to find expression for your ideas, thoughts and emotions, and gives you a sense of purpose. Such is its influence, writing can keep your heart and mind young forever.
In the words of Maya Angelou, the renowned American memoirist, poet and civil rights activist, “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” She is encouraging you to share your voice and lift the weight of stories or experiences that are hidden inside you.
Some of the best stories are those that uplift your readers' spirits and make you truly happy as a writer. Those are the ones that need to be told for they have the power to inspire and offer hope even on the darkest days.
I could not polssibly agree more! Too many people write blog posts, comments, and other things like emails when they are in the heat of emotion. They're less likely to think things through, and that can be hurtful or worse. It's much better to think things through.
Margot, thank you for commenting. You make an excellent point about writing, emailing or posting "in the heat of the moment" and, like hurtful speech, living to regret it. While the internet and social media have given us a free rein to say or write as we please, it can create problems if, as you say, we don't think things through first.
I could not polssibly agree more! Too many people write blog posts, comments, and other things like emails when they are in the heat of emotion. They're less likely to think things through, and that can be hurtful or worse. It's much better to think things through.