Autumnal Variances: Writing as Self-Care

Autumnal variances, unexpected divergences in life, and of course, the coldness of

reality. There are moments when we, as writers and creators can feel as if we are

carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders. Through the power of words and

creation, the act of writing can be an unimaginably powerful outlet for relaxation and

self-expression. October is a time of change. Still, I wanted to take some time for this

particular blog post to be a little selfish, so to speak because the very act of writing is, in

this author’s opinion, a selfish one. Perhaps selfish wouldn’t be the best word, but to

create is to put a part of yourself into the world whether that is writing a short story,

poem, novel, or collection. The characters, stories, verses all derived from our own

desire and need to express.

What does any of this have to do with self-care? Knowing the root of your creative

expression, will not only help any writing output, but also regulate emotional activity,

mental health. According to an article in the Journal of Creativity, “…Writing has been

recognized for its therapeutic benefits and positive impact on mental health (Smyth et

al., 2018). Research focusing on writing as a creative outlet and therapeutic intervention

has provided valuable insights into its healing properties…”

The article highlights a study where 12 individuals “explored the healing properties of

writing specifically for individuals with mental health conditions.” According to the

results, “writing served as a tool for individuals to process their thoughts and emotions,

gain insights into their experiences, and find a sense of empowerment and self-identity.”

Whatever your desires or goals for your writing; whether that is to publish a book, share

a story with friends or critique group, or simply write because you want to put the words

down on paper. I firmly believe that you need to write for yourself and the rest will fall

into place.

We write, not only to share our work with others, but to heal our own scars or even the

scars of others, whatever they may be and engage in that selfish act of creation because

no matter the season, or the variances in time; writing will always be that most

therapeutic form of artistic freedom.

About Maxwell I. Gold

Maxwell I. Gold is a Jewish-American prose poet, author, and editor, with an extensive body of work comprising over 350 poems since 2017. His writings have earned a place alongside many literary luminaries in the speculative fiction genres and his work has garnered nominations for multiple awards including the Pushcart Prize, the Eric Hoffer Awards, Rhysling Awards, and the Bram Stoker Awards. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals, magazines, and anthologies such as Weird Tales Magazine, Startling Stories, the recent Horror Writers Association anthology Other Terrors: An Inclusive Anthology, Chiral Mad 5, and many more. Maxwell lives in Columbus, Ohio, and his work can be found at www.thewellsoftheweird.com.