No matter what kind of writing you do, I am certain there is a healing component in there somewhere. You may not even be conscious of it.
Your story doesn't have to be limited to a journal or a memoir to tell it. If you've written a novel, perhaps your character development is a refection of your own life. Maybe you've hit your pain head on with a self-help book to assist others. I have particularly found writing in allegory style to help me process pain.
Whatever your writing style, whatever your genre, studies have shown that writing is therapeutic.
Rochelle Melander, author of the article, "Heal By Writing About Your Trauma" (Psychology Today; November 21, 2012):
Many psychological and medical studies have shown that writing about difficulties and dreams helps people experience increased happiness, health, and productivity ... psychologist James Pennebaker wrote about the multiple research studies he has done on the transformative power of writing. He discovered that people who use writing to make sense of their traumatic life experiences felt happier and less anxious.
You may have suffered a traumatic event. Write.
You may be a worrier. Write.
You may be fearful. Write.
You may have unfulfilled dreams. Write.
You may be having a bad day. Write.
Let the ashes be turned into beauty. Not only will you be helping the reader to enjoy what you write, but you will very likely be helping yourself!
~~~
Kathy Moulton is a published freelance writer. You can find her passion to bring encouragement and hope to people of all ages at When It Hurts -http://kathleenmoulton.com
13 comments:
What a lovely post! And so true. One more excellent reason to sit your behind in the chair. Thanks!
Dear Kathleen,
Thanks for sharing the many healing reasons to write.
Celebrate you.
Hello Kathleen, I, too, have enjoyed your lovely post. Writing down life's challenges helps me understand them better than talking about them or thinking about them, and it helps me deal with them in a positive way. You've captured how much writing can help in an inspirational and beautiful way. Thank you.
Thank-you so much ladies! Getting such nice comments is healing, too.
Yes Kathleen, so true. Thank you for sharing.
Great post Kathleen. Writing is healing, even if you are the only person who is going to read what you wrote.
I agree. I believe even writing how-to books is healing. Perhaps not so much as memoir, but who's to say? I think the power in books like hos-tos comes in the sharing.
Best,
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Loving helping writers get read with my HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers including the multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Book Promoter (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) .
YES!! Writing can be very cathartic!
Thank-you very much ladies!
Kathleen, how true. I agree with Carolyn that it doesn't matter what genre, it's the process itself. Writing can take you out of yourself, remove you from your problems, give you a break from your own life. At times, anyway.
Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kathleen, read this and loved it. Can't believe I didn't comment earlier. But I've been having difficulty with comment boxes recently so maybe it went missing.in the high winds.....
Thank-you for your comments, Karen and Annie.
My mother proudly tells one and all her daughter is an author. Then if she is having a bad day warns her physical therapist that I will write him into a novel. Does he want to be shark bait or dragon food? Or she asks me who I killed off today. On my holiday list is a sweatshirt a fellow author has. Don't get me angry. I'll kill you in my book.
Books are often an escape from reality for both the writer and the reader.
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