Writing Therapy: Get Better At Writing & Boost Your Health

There are people who keep all kinds of personal journals and diaries – at certain points in their lives or on a regular basis. They describe their experiences, events in life, dreams and feelings – in short, they do what they call expressive writing.

If you had a diary when you were a child (or if you still have this habit of keeping a personal journal) you know what a very personal, even intimate thing it is and how you always feel better after you shared your sorrows of joyful moments with another page in your notebook.

Many people do this for obvious reasons. Keeping a journal is not like custom essay writing; all you write is for yourself only. No one is ever going to judge you or try to correct your mistakes. You are the only person who can choose the format and structure or frequency of writing that fits you best. And still, if writing is your passion, there is no better way of improving writing skills. No wonder that many famous authors started with journaling. If you want to follow their steps, here’s some advice for you:

• If you plan to write something big, don’t hurry. Designing a large writing piece takes a lot of time.
  
• Don’t get over-confident. Learn humility.
  
• If you do start writing, write like it’s your last work.
  
• Don’t think where this will go; just write.
  
• Get immersed in what you write.
  
• Don’t set deadlines. At times of crisis, give yourself a break.
  

Writing Strategies For Young Authors:

1. The first thing you’d want to do to become better at writing is… writing. Write whenever you have free time, let nothing hold you back. If you find it hard to start – just write whatever comes into your mind. Choose a quiet place where no one and nothing will distract you, take your notebook and a favorite pen and just write – about everything you see, real people, fictional people, sincerely openly, without thinking of spelling or grammar.
   
2. Take notes of everything that evokes any emotions in you, draws your attention or just pops up in your imagination. The life itself, the world around you – this is what gives you fuel for your stories. Yes, it’s possible that your writing will never be very popular, that it will never become a bestseller. But be sure that the very process of writing has already left its trace in your mind and your subconscious, or will do that in the nearest future.
3. After a month or a couple of months after reading a book, think of what it left in your memory, what kind of emotions it stirs. Try to note what and how you write after reading different books. This kind of observation will give you proper understanding of all the things that really impress you and how they affect your life and your writing. 
   

But even if you don’t think about professional writing career, writing can still help you to structure your thoughts and ideas correctly (and you will definitely need this skill in your life). What’s more, apart from all the practical skills that writing can help you improve, it will also affect your emotional and mental state in the most positive way. There’s a reason why many psychologists recommend putting down your thoughts on paper.

Advantages Of Writing As Therapy

Describing your thoughts and feelings in writing improves your emotional and mental health. Reflexive writing gives you an opportunity to stop and realize what really troubles you. Keeping a journal helps you learn more about yourself – especially if you are still searching for ways to express yourself.

People who learn to write on regular basis often subconsciously use their past experience and bring up memories that were a result of some emotional events. Expressive writing – that is, verbalizing your feelings and emotions – helps getting rid of compulsive negative ideas and significantly decreases the level of intensity of all the negative emotions we experience.

All of the above means that regular writing may not only improve your writing skills – it can heal. You only need to be honest with yourself and not to be afraid to dive in your own subconscious.  (18.1)