At the beginning of this year, I wrote down a question in my planner above the list of writing goals: How will you write in 2020 to change the world?

I wanted to look beyond the word counts and the story structure, which are both, important. My goal was to write more than just entertainment for a reader who would find my written thoughts within a book or blog post. I desired a better purpose for any words I wrote that would be put out into the world somewhere. 

As I prayed through that thought, I came up with the following four statements to line up what I’m writing this year. 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, 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 work in progress talks a lot about cooking. 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 the light on Social Media channels that shares the positive in life, instead of what they sometimes do.
• 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 Karasek using humor and wit to bring joy and hope to every aspect in life. Her past, filled with bullying and criticism from family, is the driving force of her passion to always encourage others and give them The Reason to smile. She’s gone from down and defeated to living a Tickled Pink life as she believes there is always a giggle wanting to come out! She’s been married to her college sweetheart, Larry, for 38 years, a mom to their grown daughter, Kristen, and wrapped around the paw of a little dog named Hattie. Born and raised in Ohio, now lives in South Carolina. 

She is the President of Word Weavers Upstate SC, member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), and member of My Book Therapy/Novel Academy. She’s the Blog Editor for Word Weavers International, a monthly contributor for The Write Conversation, contributor for Southern Writers Magazine-Suite T Blog and the Novel Academy Blog and others. A contributor in the 2018 Divine Moments Compilation Book—Cool-inary Moments. 

Connect with Tammy: 

Email: tammy@tammykarasek.com 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tickledpinktammy/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tickledpinktam

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tammykarasek/

Website: https://tammykarasek.com