A Drop of Ink

By Doyne Phillips, Managing Editor for Southern Writers Magazine

In our Southern Writers Magazine March/April 2019 Issue our contributor Londa Hayden features author Linda Apple.  Linda shared many things with us and I hope you will pour over this great article Londa did and find out more about this author. One of the things that stood out to me was Linda sharing with us her mantra which is a quote from Mark Twain, “A drop of ink may make millions think.”  

Our forefathers knew this better than anyone. It was a drop of ink that spread the call to freedom across the 13 colonies. A drop of ink declared our freedom as a nation. A drop of ink has started wars, ended wars and initiated treaties. It also has brought us some of the greatest stories, poems and songs of the ages. Mark Twain was right, a drop can make us think.

But the truth is this can only happen when it is in the hands of the author. The author’s thoughts are delivered to us by way of the ink or in today’s case digitally. No matter if the delivery is old school or high tech, the principle is the same. As authors that one drop of ink is indeed a great responsibility. What an author does with it can influence millions.

In 1839 English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton penned those famous words, “The pen is mightier that the sword.” A simple figure of speech which has become entrenched in our minds and society and mirrored by Mark Twain with his “A drop of ink may make millions think.” I think Linda Apple has the right idea to use this as a mantra. It not only makes you think about what it is you want to share but also about your responsibility as an author.      

As you write think about the message you are sending, think about the people it will reach and the reactions it may produce. Knowing today we can not only reach “millions”, as Suite T has done with over 3.4 million page views, we can do it with lightning speed. Before the next drop of ink, think.