wondrous words.

Aren’t words fabulous? Inspiring? Evocative? Wondrous, even? I’m quite sure, despite using them for various purposes every single day, that a lot of people don’t appreciate their worth, their uses or their impact. 

Words can be cutting and soothing, hilarious and confusing, energetic and languid. They can be used effectively in a very powerful way to communicate situations of great importance, just as they can be used effectively to write an emotive and delicate love note, destined to be folded three times and carefully placed in a crisp, white envelope. When I think about the flexibility of our English language in that way, it only makes me want to explore it more.

I haven’t always been such a word geek, though my well-read, grammar enthusiast parents would argue that I was bound to end up being an appreciator of words at the very least. I didn’t really care that much. I’ve always read books and found them interesting, but I didn’t pore over all the words and analyse their uses like I was encouraged to do in English class. Perhaps I should have. I’m catching up now, inadvertently.  

It was poetry which really caught my attention. I immediately resonated with the creativity of the craft. I consider poetry to be a very beautiful and artful way of articulating deep and provocative thoughts with minimal words. What a skill. Unpacking poetry was - and still is - one of my favourite word-related things to do. Song lyrics included. A writer’s sense of rhythm and alliteration while working within a certain style and communicating a variety of emotions and thought-starters is an incredible craft. I like to think that elements of these techniques find their way into my day-to-day writing jobs. I do aim to write things that are a pleasure to read. 

Now that I’m in the flow of a new year, I’ve had some time to reflect about the kinds of writing I have been doing, and want to be doing. I have been blown away by the opportunities that have come across my desk in the nearly 10 months since I decided to go out on my own. I’ve been writing about pāua, pounamu, life coaching, mental fitness, limoncello, skincare, designers, singers, lawyers, women’s personal stories, and dabbling in my own creative writing projects, too. It’s a variety of subject matter, that’s for sure! I’ve had to do some pretty intense research at times, but the gratifying thing is that it’s constantly fuelling my desire to learn, requiring frequent check-ins with my friend The Dictionary, and I feel totally fulfilled knowing that I am helping businesses articulate their unique purposes and missions as best as I can. 

We consume words all day, every day. Labels, signs, headlines, radio ads, books, texts from our mothers, shouty ads, long-form articles… I could go on. How is anyone supposed to get cut through in the saturated, wordy world we live in?! I have a degree in Communications (feat. a splash of Marketing) but I’ve never been a fan of a hard sell. I’d much rather tell an authentic story and reach the people worth reaching. And how do I do that? Simple. I write words that are worth reading.

Here’s to all the wondrous words yet to be written, and all the incredible people trusting me to do so.