Several years back I took an English class that told me a writer has a purpose for every single word and punctuation mark in his or her writing. At the time I thought this opinion to be crazy. As a writer, I wondered how could it be possible that each little word in my work holds such an immense role in the overall result. Recently I realized that it is not necessarily that each word has a purpose, but it is the message each word perfectly strung together can make. I like to think of this as the empowerment of writing.

Writers have the power to encourage others to listen and spread ideas. The courage to write about topics others may disagree with. Sometimes there are good responses to ones work and other times nasty responses. However, to be able to write again even after those negative words shows the persistence to carry on. A writer is a profession that dates way back and many have faced much worse than nasty words to write in what they believe in (in opinion writing) or to inform the public. Whether those words are ready by one other person besides the writer, or millions of readers that writer has made an impact. For those words are recorded down and become a part of our society's history.

If today, all that is left of our civilization is this article, it will present a message to the future. That is the amazing part about writing is that even when the writer is gone, the written word can carry on for generations to come. It leaves a mark on society and with that mark, it can even leave behind a part of the writer.

A writer's work is his or her legacy that continues on. With that legacy comes an emotional attachment to each piece that is written. It is the very heart and soul of every piece, similar to the heart and soul of the author.

Perhaps, the emotion, history, and legacy of the pieces is what continues to make readers read more work. As it is what makes writers write. In a way a writer pays attention to all of this at once in order to create a composition. Much like art, the words are the tools in the overall piece. They can paint a picture in an entirely different way than mere colors. Words can encompass feelings just as a picture.

There is a reason there is the saying "a picture is worth a thousand words." For both can and are able to express and communicate feeling. Without this feeling there would no longer be a motivation to read or write. So, take heed in each word as it builds up this piece for it is a single work of art and it is up to you what its legacy will be.