Art museum walls amaze those who lay their eyes upon them. Photos on display of places, animals and plants, or of paradises we feel only exist in our dreams change our perspective of the world around us. People dancing make us watch in amazement wondering how it’s possible for them to move their bodies so sharply, so swiftly, so entertaining, so mind blowing. These are just a few forms of art that people appreciate without any complaints.

However, there is one form of art, in my opinion, that is underestimated, unappreciated, and thought of as plain boring. And that is the art of literature. People don’t give it the time of day to see the beauty behind it all.

The passion within

Literature is any type of written work. Sounds boring, I know. But think of it this way: writers are creators. Their minds are alive every second of the day. Everything they write and everything they say is a whole new perspective from an eccentric mind the world has not seen.

To me, it’s interesting to watch writers pick up a pencil, open a laptop, or tap on a typewriter. The moment their fingers start to write, you start to witness something extraordinary.

Their passion is felt with every word that they write. You see it in the squinting of their eyes, their mumbling lips, and the fast paced movement of their fingers—all this showing you that what they are about to make is going to be beautiful.

As a writer, your mind is never still. You constantly see images flying all around you. You see words with pictures and whole sceneries. You want to write down words to describe these images, but then you think, ‘What is my purpose? What is the impact I want to make? Do I want bliss, tears, laughter, nostalgia, amazement?’

While you’re thinking this, there is this rhythm constantly beating inside of your head. This beat is what connects your mind, soul, and heart. It smoothly creates a flow of words that come straight within you, from something raw.

This makes emotions extremely crucial to the writing process. It doesn’t necessarily mean that what you are creating is sad. Even for a comedy piece, emotions must be pure. What your feelings do is give your writing the taste of originality and passion.

Imagination comes alive

Literature is a gateway between fantasy and reality. Anything is possible, even the most unnatural idea. There is no boundary to what you can write about. I can guarantee there will be a piece that’ll catch your interest.

For those of you who love a world of fantasy, the Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling, is an emotional and bizarre story, with witchcraft and wizardry, monsters and spells. It tells of ‘the boy who lived’ and ‘he who shall not be named’ and their brutal fights for each other’s lives. Elements of death and love, family and friendship are shown all while they avoid chaos breaking loose.

The Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R Tolkien is also a thrilling one. It tells of the fight for a mere ring that is the greatest weapon to conquer Middle Earth. It is given to a Hobbit for protection from evil. The Shire, who wants all the power of the ring to gain control of everything and everyone, stops at nothing to find the Hobbit.

If you are into realistic fiction, I recommend the odd story of The Perk of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It tells the story of an introverted teenage boy, who knows nothing about being popular but who goes through an extreme social change with his new group of friends. He falls in love and watches the lives of each of his friends play out, while going through his own personal struggle of feeling bliss and depression.

Authors like John Green write realistic fiction as well. He writes about adventures and what it is like. He shows you how fighting for what makes you happy is all worth the effort, trying to teach about hope, love, tears and understandment.

If you want a “not so love story” realistic book, give Speak by Laurie Anderson a try. This book tells the story of a bullied teenager who goes through a traumatizing experience during a summer party.

There are books that talk about political issues such as George Orwell’s Animal Farm and 1984, a tale of a dystopian society.

Giving Power to the Word

     Not only are words creative, but they are powerful enough to start something up, good and bad. Speeches have ended the gruesome lives slaves were living. Words have started up boycotts and ended the struggle of discrimination between the black and the whites. Words have started revolutions around the world, started wars, ended wars, given equality to all those who are considered ‘different’.

If words have so much power to change the perspective of people all around the world and are able to make you cry or laugh or reconsider your beliefs for even a second… how can you not think that literature is beautiful?