Today I am going to introduce you to a different way to think about writing. I learned of this method through Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way when a friend of mine invited me to join a small group of women who would be reading, writing, and completing the assignments over 12 weeks. It was like a book club; only better.
To be honest, the only reason I decided to do it was because I enjoyed everything else my friend, Mary, had introduced me to. I hope everyone has a friend like that. The title of the book, “The Artist’s Way” was intriguing, but also intimidating. I mean, I am not an artist, and I wouldn’t call myself creative. That was my first mistake.
Creativity exists in many forms. Through writing, I discovered that creativity could be:
- an idea,
- a solution to a problem,
- a decision I needed to make,
- remembering something I had wanted to do, or
- a dream I was just beginning to see as a possibility.
Creativity isn’t limited to just music, poetry, and art. It is using our minds to bring something that didn’t exist before into existence. We create every day.
When writing, we can see what we have created in the past. We see what we are creating in the present. And we can let our imaginations run free to create the future we wish to see.
How do you do it?
Just start writing. The more, the better. Rest assured, this kind of writing is not supposed to be literature, or even make sense. But the process of writing is a useful tool for taking thoughts and giving them a place to rest. It is “the act of moving the hand across the page and writing down whatever comes to mind.” Yes, whatever comes to mind. Even the mean, petty, silly, stupid, or weird. All of it.
In fact, no one should read these pages. The point is to write, not read or share. If it makes you feel better, you could even burn them after you have written them. Anything goes on these pages, so give your mind the freedom to write whatever it thinks. No judgment. No censor.
I don’t journal to be ‘productive.’ I don’t do it to find grand ideas or to put down prose I can later publish. The pages aren’t intended for anyone but me. It’s the most cost-effective therapy I’ve ever found.
Tim Ferris
Here are seven ways I benefit from a regular writing practice.
1. Writing things down helps clear your mind.
Much like the process I described in my article Organize Your Mind, Change Your Life, writing things down clears the mind. You can’t hold many thoughts in your awareness at once. If you want to solve a problem, and don’t we all have one, it is helpful to write down the facts and your thoughts and feelings. Having them written down allows you to see your situation clearly, and makes finding a solution more likely.
2. Writing helps you recognize and process your emotions.
Writing down what you are thinking and feeling about specific situations is a great way to work through inner conflict and process emotions. Almost everyone I know feels some level of negative emotion daily. Writing is one way to reduce the effects of those emotions significantly. When you put your feelings to paper, you can process them more effectively than merely thinking about them. Next time you are feeling overwhelmed, angry, or depressed, try writing.
3. Writing helps you commit to your goals.
Goals not written down are just wishes. We are now in May, and do you remember the goals you made? Having clear goals means having written goals. One of the habits I have tried to implement into my morning writing is a practice I learned from Rachel Hollis. For the last decade, she has been writing down her goals every day in the present tense, as if she has already achieved them. This combines two powerful elements. One, writing them brings them to your remembrance, so your actions during the day are more likely to align with your goals. And two, writing them as if they have already happened allows your mind to more easily believe it is possible.
4. Writing helps you make decisions.
Confusion and indecision are significant contributors to feelings of overwhelm and mental fatigue. Being able to make decisions is a skill that most of us could improve. When we write, we free up mental space to analyze and ask relevant questions like: “is this useful?” and “what is the most important thing I can do right now?” Writing also helps us to prioritize and focus on the things that matter most.
5. Writing develops your sense of gratitude.
Oprah Winfrey is arguable one of the most influential women in the world and has a long history of keeping a gratitude journal. When asked about her practice, she said, “I just made gratitude a daily priority. I went through the day looking for things to be grateful for, and something always showed up.” What we look for, we find.
Having a written gratitude practice has been shown to boost long-term well being, reduce physical pain, increase quality of sleep, and reduce symptoms of depression.
6. Writing generates ideas and creative solutions.
In my experience, ideas don’t stay around long. How many brilliant ideas have you had that you swore you wouldn’t forget, but an hour later, they are gone? Possibly forever. Having regular times for writing helps create a routine and safe place for ideas to emerge.
Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable.
Francis Bacon, Sr.
7. Writing lets you dream bigger than you would if you were saying things out loud.
Maybe there is something you would like to do that you just aren’t ready to say out loud. Writing allows the dream to exist still, and often feels safer than verbalizing. No matter what is going in your life, when you write, you enter a world of possibilities.
While there is technically no wrong way to start a writing practice, here are a few suggestions:
- Decide ahead of time when and where you will write.
- Put a notebook or paper in that area.
- Use a pen that you like and feels good on the paper.
- Write in long-hand, don’t type. Read why here.
- Commit to a specific amount of time or number of pages. If you need some direction, try for three pages every day.
- Even if you don’t know what to write, write “I don’t know what to write” until another thought crosses your mind, and then write that one, and then the next. Keep your pen moving on the paper.
- Yes, it will feel awkward at first. Be patient.
I have filled several spiral-bound notebooks, and gone through dozens of my favorite pens in the last few years. It is a practice that doesn’t require any previous knowledge, and you have everything you need to get started, probably within arms reach.
And did I mention the benefits? Maybe read through them again just in case you are unsure.
Need help? Here are 30+ writing prompts to get you started today. Click here.
