Psychotherapists and counsellors encourage the emotionally-wracked or the mentally ill or the long-term sick to express their distress through therapeutic writing interventions such as The Unsent Letter. Others such as journaling also have a role in this form of therapy. But what the long-term sick or emotionally-suffering often say is that they get no holiday from their situation. Play is missing from their lives.
Does this matter?
We all understand the benefits of a break from the serious. So, for ourselves and others, we organise days out, hobbies, picnics – anything to take us away from it all. And then, on the whole, we return refreshed to the daily round. However, among us, there will be those distressed by depression or cancer or going through a divorce. For these, life will seem drab and pointless and their situations, intolerable.
But spending your days thinking suicidal thoughts doesn’t mean you can’t think of anything else. Even on dark days, you may have moments when you can play. You may, for example, still benefit from painting or playing music or tending your garden. And, as an escape from the imperatives of sickness and misery, creative writing is something very special.
The mechanics of writing are simple. As a writer, you release a flood of raw material – a stream of consciousness – and then craft that material into something with meaning and purpose, for you and for others. At this point, where passion and meaning meet, you take a first step towards recognising the significance and beauty of your own life.
So, come along – learn how to craft a plot, create memorable characters and evoke a setting and then use these tools in your own stories. It can be intoxicating – in the best sense. If this is how it works for you, your writing could become the reason why you get out of bed in the morning. You’re inevitably sensitive to the motivation and responses of your characters and, because of that, you may better be able to understand your own. And you’ll find yourself living in an intriguing reality of your own creation – which you can change in any way you want.
The benefits of all this are long-lasting. And, even when you have no control in other areas of your life, controlling this world you’ve created will lead to new confidence. This is an empowering experience for the disempowered. You will also have some fun.
And – although there is no right or wrong way of doing things – knowledge of creative writing tools and techniques can only help. Which is where Lonely Furrow Company Out of the Box Creative Writing Workshops, e-courses and individual writing coaching come in. (See next section for more information about e-courses etc.)
Hi there, just became aware of your blog through Google, and found that it’s really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will be grateful if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
You’re very kind. I do hope so.