Writing is much more than assembling an adequately frightening ransom note or adoring boy band fan letter. It provides a mode of expression, a way to channel anxiety and empower your word choices. It keeps your creativity fluid, gives your rational brain a rest, and fosters ways to meditate and capture ideas. And that’s before you stumble on the hilariously perfect caption for your cartoon submission to The New Yorker.
Even as the ink is drying, use the power of writing as a map to wander beneath the surface. Look at the present with fresh eyes, analyze the past and speculate about the future by writing, rereading, and reflecting on what new information rises to the top. What’s something interesting that occurs to you? Can you see a way to shift your perspective? Have you made more progress than you gave yourself credit for? Can you distance yourself enough from trauma to see it objectively? Is there something you can inspect closer? Is there a way to create a positive affirmation or mantra from your reflections? Can they be used for future writing prompts?
Just a moment of reflection will help you use your writing to spot patterns, track how far you’ve come, formulate goals, work through anxious situations, create new projects and things to write about. It will give you a way to shore up creative energy, connect with what you love about your creative process, and improve your editing and writing skills. True multitasking at its finest and more practical than carrying 71 grocery bags from the car in one trip.
