WRITING|PSYCHOLOGY

Has Writing Been Your Best Friend, Worst Enemy Or A Mixture Of Both?

Another informal survey to which this inquiring mind is seeking sincere responses

The following is the end of Natasha Nichole Lake’s recently published story that gave me much food for thought as a writer and my personal process with it:

“Pain is easy to write…but what can one write about happiness?” -Graham Greene

“Maybe that is my superpower- I can inhale pain and breathe out poetry.” -John Mark Green

“The thought of writing was always pleasant, but the process was painful.”-Monica Denise Brown

“A little talent is a good thing to have if you want to be a writer. But the real requirement is the ability to remember every scar. -Stephen King

Is writing therapeutic for you? Is the process remarkable or is it warfare?

I was about to start writing my response to her story when I realized that I wanted to share my thoughts and feelings on this topic with others as well as hear more from others about their experiences with writing.

Writing has always been my best friend.

Always.

Even when I have had deadlines in college and had to write in an academic style, I felt grateful that I could do so with more ease than many other people I know.

The worst and least favorite style of writing for me are reports.

I hated doing lab reports.

I liked doing the lab experiments, but dreaded every single lab report, no matter how small.

My favorite form of writing is journalling.

When I was around 10 years old, I began writing my thoughts, feelings and poetry on loose-leaf paper from my school notebooks.

For my 12th birthday, one of my friends gave me a diary — with a pretty box that locked with a tiny key that I kept safe.

That was it for me.

I never stopped writing, not for more than maybe a month or so, at the longest.

Writing is my therapy and my best friend.

I can’t even imagine what it’d be like to feel the opposite (aside from lab reports).

Sometimes, when I’ve been in between journals, I’ve written on pieces of paper (as well as the occasional paper bag or napkin) to get out my thoughts and feelings in the moment. Afterward, I tape them into my journal.

I seriously think I’ve written at least 1,000 hand-written letters throughout my lifetimes and I know I’ve written at least 10,000 personal and heart-felt letters that I’ve sent via email since the dawn of the Internet.

Living in Seattle from 1996–2003 kept me pretty up to date and well connected at great prices when it came to ways to communicate with people.

I left my hometown of Philly at 19 years old. I loved sending personal and creative letters and packages to friends and family.

In every place I’ve lived, I’ve gotten familiar with my local post office.

Now…I will say, I am the kind of writer who writes less frequently in my journal when I’m sad or depressed.

When I’m in pain or angry, sad or depressed, my creativity tends to be at its lowest.

During such times, I usually switch to painting or playing acoustic guitar or spending more time doing other non-verbal things.

They help me endure the difficult times much more than creative writing does.

I used to be friends with a guy who enjoyed writing and he was the opposite in this regard. His choice in authors, such as William Burroughs and James Baldwin reflected this exquisite love for the alchemy of pain transformed into something beautiful through writing.

Part of me used to wonder if I was missing something as a writer because I never felt that connection with suffering and writing.

For many years I doubted whether I was even that good of a writer, despite a few close friends encouraging me to pursue writing.

It wasn’t until I returned to college at 36 years old to start all over again (almost from scratch) and finally finish my Bachelor’s degree that I began to realize that I am actually very good at writing.

I don’t know if I’ll ever be among “the greats”. That matters little to me anyway.

What matters most to me is that I have a wonderful relationship with writing that has served me in countless ways, including here on Medium since I started regularly writing late last summer (2021).

One of my nearest and dearest friends (who is also one of my favorite writers in general), JA Vassili and I started a publication, Pure Fiction, several months ago that is helping me grow as a fiction writer (what I consider to be my weakness).

Here’s a story a re-published earlier today (a story I wrote last year to which I made a few changes) to kick off a challenge that she put together for the summer.

I plan to write another that focuses more on climate change which is a topic that means a lot to both of us.

It’s funny that it just occurred to me JA Vassili’s writing style and choices in books tends to be darker than mine and she is worlds better than me at writing creatively in general as well as during challenging times.

I have a massive amount of admiration and respect for her ability to do that.

She also happens to be a big fan of my writing which is still, even after 26 years of friendship, hard for me to fully accept.

She wrote her first novel as a teenager…!?

Here’s are a few of my favorite stories by her:

Fiction:

Non-fiction:

So…what about you?

Is writing your best friend, worst enemy or a mixture of both?

I am very much interested in hearing what you have to say on the matter. Feel free to write a story about it and tag me in it.

(Writers for Pure Fiction)

Alize Henry Crystal A. Walker F. Leonora Solomon Misty Rae Rhiannon Hopkins MN Nova Grace Krista Marson D Mind Shifts Amanda Gravely Andy Mackk J B Ferguson Caitlin Samminga Dani Banani Gianni Bawn Ellie Brooke Erica J Glenn Whitlock J. Salvatore Domino Jeofrey Ogire Kitty Whitemore Lawson Wallace Logan Silkwood Gerald Washington RGomez Shrayan Bandyopadhyay Warren Patterson Tess Obenauf Auden Wright Nova Grace D Mind Shifts Shanice Lawton Vincent Kühl Cathylouise Andy Mackk Kristen Haveman Auden Wright Ria Rees

(Writers for Taking Off)

Robert Pomeroy Ticapo Alexandra Christensen Alan Asnen Adrienne Beaumont Andrea Barb Dalton 🇺🇦 bakagaijin Bernie Pullen BichoDoMato Y. Chwyldro Catherine Arnett Citizen Upgrade Crystal A. Walker DeeDee Denise Stephens Judy Derby BSc. Denise M. Day EllenEastwood Ellie Brooke F. Leonora Solomon Gabriela Francisco Gianni Bawn Graham Cooke Ian Hanson Ivery del Campo Jack Road James Jordan J.J. Pryor JA Vassili dick Karen Toralba Kim Baker KiKi Walter Krista Marson Laurie Morin Maggie Gigandet MN Matt Hammerle Gerald Washington Misty Rae Nahid Niharika Chhabra Peggy McDaniel P. Venkat Raman Perri Michelle Tooth Truth Roopa Vikesh RGomez Sara Burdick Shannon Piérre Joel A. Johnson The Sober Vegan Yogi Jacqueline R.M. Tamika G Richard Steele Walter Rhein Vivian Oguguo Yvonne Tse