Whether or not you hope to publish a book, if you want to write, you should keep on writing. Here’s why:
- Writing to express one’s self helps improve one’s mood
- Expressive writing helps us resolve psychological trauma
- Research indicates that writing about our deepest thoughts and feelings is beneficial to physical well-being
- Writing about what bothers us reduces stress
- Writing improves sleep
…and all these are backed up by research.
I want to assure you with all earnestness that no writing is a waste of time–no creative work where the feelings, the imagination, the intelligence must work. With every sentence you write, you have learned something. It has done you good. It has stretched your understanding. I know that. Even if I knew for certain that I would never have anything published again, and would never make another cent from it, I would still keep on writing.
-Brenda Ueland in If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit
photo credit: [Poems], [ca. 1620-1640] via photopin (license)
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I didn’t start writing with the expectation of publishing anything at all. I totally agree with Ms. Ueland’s final statement. I cannot imagine NOT writing anymore because it gives me so much pleasure.
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Susanne, I’m glad to know you’ll keep on writing because reading your blog posts gives me so much pleasure 🙂 !
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I have a well-thumbed copy of Brenda Uehland’s book! I agree—writing is a healing essential…
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I’ve just been leafing through the book, but will certainly spend more time reading it!
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I think she was quite elderly when she wrote the book, wasn’t she? I love her spunky spirit!
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This is a very good post and one I should remember… to practice. Every year for the past 4 years I start a new journal in early January. Not this year. Reason: I have not been able to feel comfortable with writing about the way I currently REALLY feel, in case it attracts more of the same. I’m obviously talking about less than positive feelings (to put it mildly). I try to practice positive thinking and all that, but it’s challenging and tiring. I love writing. I like pencils and paper of different kinds. I actually love the physical act of writing on paper. Also on a screen. Your posts always inspire me to write yet I have not done it for some months now. I need to change that perspective.
Thank you Rosanna for this reminder 🙂
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Natalia, I hope that you’ll be able to go back to writing soon. I sometimes feel that way too….when something unpleasant happens, I don’t feel like writing. But you’re a great craftster, why not create craft instead when you don’t feel like writing? That will release the energy, no matter how negative.., I think that creating is one way of transforming the energies. Here’s to more crafting and writing!
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