Words...

This is one of my favorite songs, and I listen to it every time before I start writing. Enjoy. 

I don't write to please people and I don't write to further the agenda of any party. I write to stand up for what I believe in. Words are my gift. This is my voice. No one will ever tell me what to write or especially what not to write. Nine thousand people read my last blog post. When you know anything you write will possibly be read by thousands of people, it's important that you make sure you mean what you say.

I've been honored to write guest blog posts for Liberals Unite and most recently for Moristotle & Co.  In neither case did anyone try to tell me what my message should or shouldn't be. I wasn't given these opportunities because someone wanted to use me as some sort of prop. I wasn't given these opportunities because I'm 12 years old and cute. I was given these opportunities because some very special people read and appreciated my previous work. I consider this a very great honor.

Words can hold people accountable for their actions. I'm not afraid to call people out regardless of what party they represent. I've experienced acts of extreme good will from Republicans and I've been dissed by Democrats. I don't judge people based on what box they check on their voter registration form. I didn't get involved in activism and start writing about politics and social issues to play party games. My loyalty is to the truth and to being true to myself.

Writing isn't just about getting a bunch of people to read your words. Words can inspire people to feel and can inspire people to take action. The whole reason I started this blog in the first place was because I saw how another writer had inspired people to take action and help support people facing injustice. I'd like to encourage other girls to not be afraid to share what they write. Even if only one other person reads what you've written and that one person is affected in some way by your words, you have succeeded.

It's important for girls to remember that we have power. Each and every one of us has some gift or talent that can make a difference. Each of us has the power to reach people. In my case, I have the power to write things that reach thousands, the power to call contacts in the media and give them a scoop, and the power to post on social media and it have the potential to go viral. I didn't get this power by accident. I got this power because I work hard. There have been times I've written something I was really proud of, and then maybe only a few hundred people read it. Then I'll write something else, something I may be unsure about or not think is very good, and people love it. You can't predict how your audience will react. You can't get discouraged by other people's reactions.

There are thousands of other people out there writing about the same issues. You have to keep it real with people and look deep inside yourself so that way, there's a good chance you're bringing something unique to your potential audience. People will try to steer you towards their message sometimes. Beware of those people. They do not have your best interest at heart, only their own. I wrote a post about abortion yesterday and several of my pro-life friends said they liked it, as did several of my pro-choice friends. That's when you know you're doing it right.

Today, I have a guest blog post featured on Moristotle and Co. about Moral Monday. I'm sure there are people on the right who won't like it and people on the left who won't like it. If there is one thing my readers can be assured of, agree or disagree, I mean what I say.
http://moristotle.blogspot.com/2013/09/tuesday-voice-moral-monday.html