Writing About Writing

A Way of Thinking

When I was a young girl, I used to staple printer paper pages together and fill them out with stories I made up or changed from somebody else's story. When I got older, around 5th grade, I learned to type up stories using Microsoft Word on my father's computer. I added fantastical details to them, and in the cafeteria, I'd sit and read the stories to a crowd of eagerly listening friends. I already knew life has challenges, but a pencil and pen were always there as an outlet when I needed them. This is why I studied Communication, and I'm fortunate enough that writing is central to my work and services.

According to a post on Goodreads, author Toni Morrison said in an unknown source that

"Writing is a way of thinking..."

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When I first read this quote from Morrison, the idea of writing as a way of thinking became a guiding principle in my work. Writing can illuminate, enlighten, motivate, and activate beyond the ink that's on paper, or pixels on a screen. That's why I love it and have honed it through the years, and how I know the pen is mightier than the sword.

Rhetorical Appeals in Organizational Branding

Further principles in writing are the ancient Greek ideas of the three rhetorical appeals, ethos, logos, and pathos, which are credited to the philosopher, Aristotle. Ethos is credibility, logos is logic, and pathos is emotional appeal. I wasn't sure how important these principles were when I first came across them in the 3rd grade, but I wound up still using them in academia, internships, my career, and beyond.

While designing a brand or re-vamping a brand for a business or organization, ethos, logos, and pathos can play an important role. Optimally, a strong brand can evoke a sense of trust, positive emotions, and constructive and logical decision-making. As a writer, I ensure that writing and design are crucial to building out a brand, and that's why I offer my writing, editing, and social media services on my website and a free 45-minute discovery call to see if my skills are a fit with your project.

The Power of Symbols and Good Writing

Without making a lecture on Marketing 101, it comes down to: writing is a way of using symbols to communicate thoughts and ideas, according to an article by Tara Benwell from the website, EnglishClub. It's the reason why the McDonalds logo succeeds at making people hungry, and the Coca-Cola logo can make people thirsty. It's ideal for organizations to invest in good writing, editing, and content for these very reasons.

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Brands can use writing practices for societal good. Sometimes, marketing and advertising are given a bad reputation for utilizing dishonest communication, but in my experience and research, I'm confident that organizations can positively affect their communities, society, and the world with effective and clear writing—it's the driving motivation for my career and while partnering with people and businesses.

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