How Creative Writing Has Changed The World For The Better
From Chaucer to Rowling, creative writing has often been the boon to our stressful, busy world.
It started as a way to maintain folklore tradition and tell us tales of knights in shining armor who brought whole countries together (King Arthur).
“Excalibur! Forged when the world was young, and bird and beast and flower were one with man…” Excalibur (1981)
But creative writing has now become an absolutely powerful force for good. We see the wisdom of Gandalf and Baggins (Lord of the Rings)…
“You asked me to find the fourteenth member of this company and I have chosen Mr. Baggins.”
…The humor of Bridget Jones, and the horror that only Stephen King (The Shining) can produce.
Whether you read or write a high fantasy novel or an epic crime drama, there will be an amazing impact. Creative writers of all types have brought about amazing results for the world and all they did was grab the nearest pen, typewriter, or computer and got down to writing.
I want to take a look at just how powerful creative writing has been for our society and just how it has changed the world for the better.
7 Amazing Instances of Creative Writing Impacting the World
Creative writing has been a huge part of making the world a better place. Here are some awesome instances of just how powerful it is.
1. It Captured Oral Tradition Giving Us Amazing Stories to Look Back At. When you think of creative writing, one of the first things many think of is the stories of the Brothers Grimm. They are dark and full of terrors, but those stories are also incredible for many reasons.
One reason these stories are so immensely powerful isn’t just because they provided us with great fairy tales that influenced our popular films, but they also captured history.
The Brothers Grimm traveled around, learning some of the popular folklore that was told in one way and one way only – orally. We all know how much impact those stories had (just look at all the Disney films we have).
Preserved in time by the talents of a pen…
What would have happened if the Brothers Grimm hadn’t stored these stories? What would the world look like now? What a fascinating, and slightly terrifying thought to think. By writing down these creative folk stories, the Brothers Grimm opened a whole new world of creative possibility.
2.Creative Writing Has Shown Immense Power in Physical Health. When the Brothers Grimm popularized creative literature, they probably didn’t realize what this would mean for the world.
A huge impact that all creative writing has had, no matter its age, genre, or format, is that of improving physical and mental health. There are so many amazing health benefits when you read creative literature, and that is a pretty awesome impact if you ask me.
When you write creatively, you can see some health benefits such as the ability to improve your memory and have a great format to release pent up emotions.
Reading creative literature also gives you immense health benefits including better cognition, relieving stress, and helping you sleep. That’s right, if you have a hard time sleeping, reading a good book might just be what you need.
The great thing about this is that creative writing and literature doesn’t have to be one type of thing – it can be anything. It can be a comic book, a science fiction novel, the latest study, or a great nonfiction book.
3. A Simple Novella Can be a Letter to a Loved One. Another way that creative writing has made the world a better place is actually something rather small. But, as well all know, those small things add up to something major in the end.
Neil Gaiman is an amazing author with an impressive range of works including The Ocean at the End of the Lane. While this seems like a jaunt into urban fantasy, there is something much deeper. This story started out as a simple, small letter to his soon-to-be-wife, Amanda Palmer.
He wanted to make sure she knew things about him, and he wanted to share his life with her, and creative writing was what helped him achieve this. It ended up turning into an absolutely gorgeous novella, but his small action was something Amanda greatly appreciated.
It might not have made a worldwide impact, but a small gesture through creative writing can change someone’s world for the better. And Amanda experienced something that many of us would absolutely enjoy.
4. Creative Writing Might Send You to San Francisco with Flowers in Your Hair. When you look at the world of creative writing, there are so many facets. There are books, ad campaigns, music, and more.
The 1960s and 1970s were a powerful decade when it came to moving and emotional creative writing. The United States was at war with Viet Nam, with protestors calling for peace. America and the entire world were also on the cusp of major social change.
And music and creative writing had an important role to play.
We had songs about peace, encouraging people to avoid war and work together to meet a resolution without the shedding of blood. People marched singing these songs, hung around in large groups with these songs, and many were backdrops to some of the most intense and saddest moments in American history.
Not only did we have songs about peace, but we also had songs about racial problems around the world but specifically in America. We had books such as To Kill a Mockingbird that highlighted these problems and a speech no one will ever forget:
“I have a dream…”
5. Fiction and Creative Writing Help Create Literate Children and Adults. I’ll admit, when it comes to creative writing and literature, my go-to author is Neil Gaiman. He has great wisdom about creative writing and its importance and he often illustrates that importance himself.
In an article for The Guardian, Neil talks about the importance of creative writing, specifically that of fiction. He points out how fiction can improve someone’s life, no matter if they are reading to escape, learn, or have fun.
He believes, and rightly so, that with literature, we open the door to a healthy society as well as a more literate culture. Did you know that New York City gauged the prison growth rate off of the amount of 10 and 11-year-olds that couldn’t read?
Now, what does that say about the need for literacy? Quite a bit.
While Neil does point out that a literate society does not equal a crime-free one, there is an immense impact of literature, bettering the world.
Creative writing and reading gives people the chance to formulate their opinions and to learn about other views. There are many things a person can learn just by reading and fiction has long had an amazing impact on many readers.
6. Creative Writing Provides Powerful Ads that Cannot Be Ignored. Powerful creativity isn’t just something you see in books and music but is also amazingly powerful in the ad world.
On September 11th, 2001, America saw one of the worst terrorist attacks on their soil and the world felt the immense grief radiating out from New York City, the Pentagon, and Pennsylvania. People everywhere were making tributes to the fallen on that day, and there was one particular ad that brought everyone to tears.
Budweiser paid a gorgeous tribute to those who died that day with a Super Bowl ad that only ran for a brief time.
The lovely America, captured in the Budweiser 9/11 tribute ad.
Advertising has done more than just paying tribute; they’ve raised awareness for issues, focused on social change, and worked to bring people together.
One such ad is a Spanish advertisement that only children could fully see. It sent out a message that if a child was being abused, he or she could reach out.
This was met with a fanfare of those who thought it was great and criticism from those who didn’t know if it would work. Regardless, it was still a great, powerful ad.
7. A Simple Children’s Story Can be Immensely Complex. What do I mean with those contradicting words? Easy – Harry Potter, when looked at on the surface, is a simple children’s story, it has all the elements.
The talents of J.K. Rowling.
However, it is also immensely complex. Rowling dealt with many issues that children’s literature often didn’t, which could be a major reason why so many adults read it.
This series impacted the world amazingly by giving people something positive in a dark time. And it also brought about something great – literacy.
It inspired so many children to read, especially those who weren’t big readers. It brought about a love for reading, which really did impact the world for the better.
In addition, a 2003 article from the University of North Texas pointed out that it also helped create discussion between children and adults.
Never Be Afraid to Read and Write What You Want
Creative writing really has had an immense impact on the world, changing it for the better, hasn’t it? No matter what it is you are reading or writing, know that it is exactly what you need.
It might get you through a hard time in your life, encourage you to try new things, and if you’re a business owner, help you bring in new clients.
Creative writing is just another thing Express Writers offers, and our team can help you get something epic and creative that people will definitely enjoy.
Photo credits: The Telegraph (King Arthur), John Howe (Lord of the Rings), Goodreads (book cover, Grimm), Marshall.edu (Harry Potter book cover)