Why writing is more than just writing
What’s your story like? Have you made sure to make your characters relatable? Have you made sure to see if your idea will?
As an aspiring writer this should feel familiar.
All the questions, they fly through your mind, causing frustrations and no matter how hard you work, the frustrations don’t disappear. They grow.
Every word or decision is chosen based on “How’s it going to be when it’s done?”
But have you ever stopped to wonder what you are actually gaining from your writing sessions?
I’m not talking about the improvements you make. Not the skills or discipline you build along the journey. I’m talking about the benefits of writing – how it impacts your mind, your emotional state, and your well-being.
Have you ever wondered how you’re changing?
Because I sure as hell didn’t. Which was a shame, this much I realize now.
The benefits of writing: beyond progress and discipline
As an aspiring writer you improve at a rapid pace. What you couldn’t do yesterday; you suddenly can.
1,400 words becomes 1,600.
20 minutes becomes 30.
You keep raising the bar and every day you don’t see it; you’re cheating yourself of the vision. And that’s why your frustrations don’t go away.
It’s a blessing and a curse.
But writing is much more than the outcome you just need to see them.
Here’s some of the unexpected benefits – blessings and curses – writing have rewarded me, and will most likely reward you with, too.
How writing became my coping mechanism
This is one of the most important benefits of writing for me.
I started writing because I felt the need to tell a story, but now it has become my therapists.
It’s the thing I go to whenever things become too much. It doesn’t have to be a story. It’s where I go when there’s a sea of ideas or thoughts floating around in my head.
Because if I don’t, they get stuck inside my head and grow too loud.
Does that make sense?
The idea of sitting down with your writing and escape into a fiction universe, it’s just nice – you know?
Turning problems into stories: the unexpected benefit of writing
It’s a perfect way to disappear from your problems, yes. But I honestly think, it’s a perfect way to use your problems.
Most of the times, when I’m stung by problems and go to writing, I somehow always end up giving my character the same problem, push them through a situation, or maybe even make it worse. Whatever it is, it’s my job as the writer to not only create the conflict, I also have to solve it.
This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because two things happen.
Your writing will start to depend on your problems. And your problems will start depend on your writing. It’ll be a relationship that’ll become your driving force and once it does, you won’t be able to lose a single day without your brain questing if you’re trying to flood it with thoughts.
This is amazing, surely, but it might also become too much.
You don’t want to let your problems drive your story in a different direction than first expected, so what can you do?
Another easy way out that’ll also help you improve as a writer is journaling.
Writing to unload an overstimulated brain
How would you feel if you suddenly stop releasing your problems?
Pretty bad – right?
Yes, that’s what’ll happen if you turn off the outlet where you let go of your frustrations, but if you’re doing it to stop influencing your story, I get it.
It’s such a frustrating thing that can both be positive and negative. You won’t flood your story with the wrong narrative, but you’re instead flooding your mind with frustrations.
It might seem like a lose-lose situation, but luckily there’s a way out of it.
Because an overstimulated mind is not just bad, it’s terrible.
You need a way to get rid of your frustrating and if not through writing, then at least through some more medium.
And as I spoiled in the previous section this is where journaling comes in. It’s a great exercise to help you separate your frustration from your writing.
How to journal effectively: tips for aspiring writers
As an aspiring writer, this is a necessary thing to give yourself the biggest odds of succeeding.
I started out writing short stories which quickly turned to novel writing and now I’m also doing blog writing.
“So Jack, do I need-“
Sorry to interupt your thought.
But no.
You don’t need to start blogging to get the benefits from writing.
It can be very short stories, one-pagers, or just a waterfall of words on a page.
Whatever format you choose, it won’t just benefit your mental health, it’ll help your writing skills too.
My blog has helped me diverse my writing. It has exposed me to another form of thinking and has made it easier for me articulate my ideas.
So, while you might think, “why should I”, just remember: There’s no more important audience than the one behind the keyboard.
Journaling: A powerful tool for mental clarity
“But how do I do this other thing?”
This is a quite common question.
One I battled with myself in the beginning.
Journalling is simply about putting your thoughts and feelings down onto a paper and it’s actually quite simple.
You see, for me, whenever my mind is clouded and overwhelmed, I just grab a pen and write.
I always start at the left top corner, and by the time the pen has scrabbled around for 15 minutes, my mind is as sharp as a knife.
There’s absolutely no better way to process your thoughts than writing them down.
And I recommend you journal in hand.
It forces you to slow dow. Take your time to see the words in front of you and really gain the benefits of the writing. It’ll force you to process the words one by one, and by taking longer, you automatically get to spend more time with your thoughts.
Now, where people might make it more complex is by using what’s called a prompt.
A prompt is a short sentence meant to spark a thought or give you a focus point. This can be very useful if you feel struck and don’t nowhere to start.
Journal prompts for your writing
Journal prompts don’t have to be anything complex.
I think this is where most people get it wrong.
It’s common to think that they need to be sophisticated and abstract before they’ll spark some revolutionary thought, but they don’t.
They are just meant as a start.
These are some of the prompts I have used myself to great effect:
- How do you feel?
- What’s the best thing that has/can happened this week?
- Name three things you want to achieve this week.
- What are you grateful for?
- If you could only focus on one thing today, what is it?
- How are you progressing towards your goals?
- Are you giving your interests your all? Where could you improve?
These have all helped me in some way and I think it’s because they help me focus my energy on making sure I move in the right direction.
Personally, I do it daily, but that’s mainly because I like the way it sets the tone for the day and it’s writing.
But this doesn’t mean you have to.
I know some people that can’t go a day without it and some that does it once a month. However, journalling is such a personal thing – how much you need to do it and how often – it’s all depends on you.
As an aspiring writer, it’s important to not put too much on your plate. Especially if writing is something you are just doing part-time.
So, I’d recommend you do it twice a week.
At the start and end of the week.
This will help you reflect on the progress you’ve made and what changes you want to make moving forward.
Writing excitement is the path to engagement and growth
Okay, the purpose of this blog post wasn’t just to talk about journalling.
It’s to talk about writing in general.
Because you do want to become a writer – right?
Apart from the mental power, one of the benefits of writing is that it has the potential to compete with the cheap dopamine rush you get from shows, games and movies.
“You have to put in work to have fun?”
Yes.
“Sounds like witchcraft.”
This is typical for most people, but if you’re an aspiring writer, then you already know there’s something more powerful hidden behind that requirement.
The thing with writing is that while it can be used for excitement instead of gaming, watching or anything else, it’s excitement that’s based entirely on how much you put into it.
Which is why I don’t understand why people don’t want to do it.
Think about it.
It’s a thing that’ll give you insane amounts of excitement and you just have to work – I mean there’s a limit to the fun you get from those other things.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you can’t do those other things as well.
The task should just be clear.
If you want to write a novel you need to put in the time. And the only way you get to do that is by finding excitement in the craft.
Unfortunately, it’s more than just asking: Does writing feel fun? Do you enjoy it while you’re with the pen or at the keyboard?
It requires some effort, but if my personal experience has taught me anything, then it’s that: Through the continuous effort to write, you’ll eventually find your new home in your fiction universe.
How writing became my addiction
Addiction – What a negative buzzword, but it’s true.
Here I’m not referring to all the bad things, it’s in fact only positive things.
Because you need to be addicted to reach your goal of becoming a writer. It’s an addiction to live in a fictional universe and reach the ultimate level of writing.
I’m still working towards this, but fortunately, my current novel has helped far towards it.
I started with days of struggle and questions.
I questioned the journey, this writing things, and if I had it in me.
It was very tiring, but it was more frustrating than anything. Because whenever I sat down to write, time always flew and I enjoyed me more than I did with anything else.
I think it was my old habits trying to win me back, but luckily, with the help of some positive reinforcement, I won the tug-of-war.
Daily, I kept telling myself: “That feeling is weird. You enjoy writing. Think it’s fun. And there’s special about it, why are you making it so hard, see that? You do enjoy it.”
Yes, it was a long thought, but it helped.
But maybe a bit too much.
Because now I’m feeling it. I’m feeling the pressure from the writing and the lust to write, it’s constant.
The addiction’s building and while it’s great for my dreams and novels, the same can’t be said for me, the person.
There needs to be a fine balance between those two. One I’m yet to find, but I’m doing everything in my power, but for now, I’m just smiling and enjoying the moment. Because it’s the right part that’s winning.
The real benefits of writing? More than just words on a page
Writing is just about the best thing in the world.
If you are an aspiring writer and are finding things difficult just know it’s normal.
Your mind still has to get used to the change in scenery.
The fact you’ve shot your old habits out the doors and forcing your mind to work? It needs some time to get used to it.
But no matter how it feels just know it’s healthy.
And your brain will thank you later on.
It’ll take some time before you reach the point, but you’ll know once you do. The realization will hit you like a door. A big, fat, steel door from out of nowhere will hit you like:
“Shit, I’m addicted to writing.”
And then, the only thing I’ll have to say is:
“Welcome, it’s amazing to have you here.”
That’s a wrap for you today.
Have you found any benefits of writing? Are you using writing to clear your mind and manage stress, or are you still figuring it out? Share your experience in the comments or send me an email – I’d love to hear your story.
Until next time – Hope you have a productive and creative day.
Your writing buddy,
Jack