The power of the written word

We all know how powerful the written word can be - it can make you laugh out loud, it can make you cry buckets, it can transport you through time and space, and allow you to be anyone you want to be.  The two guest bloggers I shared my page with last week were not so sure about the power of the written word - they see writing as something you do at school, and it might have some relevance when you leave school but it might not.  They are becoming avid readers, but don't see themselves as writers.  Or at least, they didn't see themselves as writers until Monday.
On Monday I showed them the responses to their blog posts.  They were amazed that people who they didn't know, and would probably never meet, would take time to read their writing and respond to it.  These girls grew in confidence, right in front of my eyes. And since then, they have referred to themselves as writers.
So thank you to those who took the time to read their recounts. And thank you a thousand times over to those who cared enough to comment.  You have made their day - and hopefully have paved the way for them to have a rich writing life too.
I may not post here very regularly (no change there, then) because now I have to set up a class blog - they all want a go.  And I will, because the authentic audience is one way for them to share their own authentic voice as a writer.
Watch this space!