The Power of Words

Listening to: Florence + The Machine – All Albums Mix

Mood: Soulful

Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of seeing Florence + The Machine’s live in concert as part of the “How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful” tour. Florence is one of my all-time favorite artists. Her voice is ethereal, yet haunting. Her songs are poetic and poignant. There's a reason every single one of my manuscript playlists include songs by her. And she is even more amazing in concert than comes across on her albums (and her voice is incredibly impressive on her albums). I am not musically inclined. I can sing at the top of my lungs, but the sound that comes out of my mouth is not beautiful and the only tears that fall are likely those of pain after one’s eardrums burst. Okay, I’m not that bad, but that’s not the point.

As I stood there watching Florence float and twirl around stage, my body swaying to the music, my palms raised up, and my heart full, a wealth of emotions swirled in me. Her words make me fly high and also cradle me at my lows, and her voice brings those emotions to life. Her music enthralls me. I want more. I can’t get enough. It’s as if every one of her lyrics strikes me in straight in the heart, speaking to me in a dark, yet beautiful way. In other words, she makes me FEEL.

And that feeling is why I write. My stories may be futuristic, or fantastical, often have strange creatures, and in all cases explore the edges of darkness, but my greatest hope is that someday someone will read my stories and the words will speak to them. Their heart will be full, and they will FEEL.