Connections: Creative Writing & Mental Health

Photo by Nong on Unsplash

It becomes more and more obvious to me as I go through articles on various websites that this discussion is one that needs to be had. For creatives, many of the articles that support theories about creativity and mental health allude that there is some type of instability that occurs. What isn’t being discussed is that for many individuals being able to key into creative writing is a release.

For generations, we’ve been storytellers by trade.

There is beauty in the folktales from our ancestors. We’ve learned to adapt and equate to our surroundings due to the stories we’re told and the words that are passed along.

Creative writing is a cornerstone of this.

According to National Geographic, the earliest stories were told orally with gestures. The early humans were communicative while also being expressive. No matter who you are, you come from a world that was once creative and indulgent in that fact. We told stories for communication. We learned expression in the simplest yet most passionate form.

So what does this have to do with mental health?

Our world today is one that is plagued with poor mental health. 1 in 25 million adults living in the United States suffers from some form of poor mental health. What if you could bring yourself some relief through storytelling? How great would it be to find a safe outlet that allows you to be expressive and creative?

Creative writing and taking the moment to create your own stories could be beneficial to you if you’re having a hard time. For someone with a big imagination expressing that is so important. It’s time to stop putting it off and dabbling in daydreams. Give yourself the chance today to write creativity — even if it’s on the back of a napkin. Take that moment and open up a world of fantasy or even apocalyptic alternate realities.

Looking for some advice on how to craft your narrative and build your own world? Follow along with my posts as I share some of my own secrets and journey to lacing my characters into their own well-thought-out worlds.

Let’s start with how important it is to get to know your characters.