Words: Friends or Foe? How can writing help you.

[quirkywords]

People can be afraid of words as they have no confidence in what they write. Maybe at school teachers have said negative things about their writing or their parents have said they don't write well.

Some people are anxious to write their first post as they wonder if they will make sense to others.

I believe words are your friends and everyone who can read this can write in meaningful way.

I want to look at how writing can help you

1) by helping you to explain and express your feelings to others

2) allowing you to connect to others through your words

3) by keeping a journal or starting a thread here and learn from your own writing and read others.

4) by helping you work out how to change certain behaviours

and many more we can share with each other.

To start at the beginning : Are words your friend or foe?

When you see a blank page or screen are you filled with fear or are you excited at the challenge.

Does writing words down help you more or in a different way to speaking them?

Everyone is welcome to contribute, first time posters , regulars, people who don't like writing , people who find they go the character limit for the post every time.

Write on

Quirky

PS writing in this context is same as typing , or using voice to text.

I want to look at how words can help you express your thoughts and emotions?

[spacemountain]

quirkywords... I find journaling (and poetry) really important for my mental health. I can read old entries and see the patterns in my mood. When I'm journaling a depressed entry, I can see that there have been many similar entries followed by positive and optimistic entries, so it won't be dark forever. Journaling is also really helpful for communicating my thoughts and feelings later (like to my therapist). I need to hash things out a lot before I can articulate to others. It's also cathartic to write, even if I never share it with anyone. Sometimes I feel a big sense of relief after I write down what was previously a scattered mess of abstract feelings inside me.

The manic distractability works for me, personally. I enjoy the loose associations and creativity, there's just a lot of free verse and unfinished manic "poems" laying around. 😉

[quirkywords]

Space mountain,

Thaks for your posts explaining how journaling helps you.

I think finding patterns is very useful. I date all my entries so I can see how my mood changes with times.

For me , I thought what I write when manic was amazing but in reality later I saw my words were very unconnected and made no sense. I know some people write their best work when manic but for me that was not the case.

i think through writing in journals we learn more about ourselves and our moods and what works for us.

I also find it cathartic to write and also calming.

Thanks for sharing your post.

i wonder what others feel about writing in a journal and how it helps them or how it can be difficult at times.

Quirky

[quirkywords]

hello everyone,

There are so many words at this time of year, everyone wishes you a Merry Christmas , there are words written in cards, there are resolutions being planned, so many plans, so many wishes so much talking catching up with friends.

In what way can you make words your friends at this time of year and for next year.?

Any ideas?

Quirky

[Summer Rose]

Hi Quirky

At this time of year and throughout the coming year, I think words and I will be better friends if I can take more time to think before I speak.

I am also planning to do more professional writing next year, as I'm planning to start writing another novel. A daunting goal which I can't wait to start.

Kind thoughts to you and others

[quirkywords]

Hello all

Thanks Summer Rose.

I also need to think before I speak, give others the benfit of the doubt and proof read more to save mbarassing mistakes.

Another novel, how many have you written , is it for adults or children, have you had it published?

I am very interested . I nice had plans to write but all I can mange are blogs and I gave up on the book idea.

take care

Quirky

[Summer Rose]

Hi Quirky

I have written one novel for adults. I had a few nibbles from publishers but the deal I was eventually offered was contingent upon some self-funding and it felt like "vanity publishing".

I thought I would polish/edit and try again but life got in the way. As a freelance journo I did have a book published by a corporate client years ago but not sure that counts in this context.

I've been thinking about a story I want to write for awhile now. It niggles and niggles. No choice but to start!

It's never too late to start writing your narrative, Quirky. You never know what will happen until you try.

[Doolhof]

Hi Summer Rose, Quirky and All,

I like the idea of writing a novel. As a kid I used to write stories a lot. I enjoyed the written word.

I keep telling myself I will write up my holiday journals some time! I have been wondering if I will do them as factual or if I am tell them from the angle of a holidaying cat perhaps.

Recently I have taken up journaling, but have not written a great deal. It may happen in time.

All the best with the novel Summer Rose!

Hey Quirky, there is no harm in giving it a go!

Cheers all from Dools

[quirkywords]

Hello everyone reading and thinking of writing,

Moon, thanks for your last post. I think that writing to ourselves and being very honest helps but can be hard.Have you been writing much in your journals recently?

It has been a while and I guess I wonder how people are going with their writing to help them and their mental health? Have you had any insights recently?

I came across a poem I wrote when I was about 20 and wondered who that person was who wrote it as it did not seem like me. It was not a good poem but it had emotion and rawness. Does our writing change over the years?

Quirky

[Moonstruck]

Hi Quirky....strange thing is, some weeks back I had upsetting, worrying news about one of my sons..it hit me very very hard and I did not write a word for ages...not a word. I simply couldn't put on paper what had happened. I ignored my journal completely. whether it would have helped to write it down I don't know...but I truly don't think so. Not in this case.

I believe at that time, I really did know what was "best" for me to heal and deal with the situation. writing it down would have done me in I think. I just got back to writing in it recently and mentioned the reason I had ignored it for so long...but didn't elaborate. Things don't seem so dire now..and I am writing again.

I don't think our writing style as such changes all that much..unless you do it for a career, or a Uni course in journalism or whatever....but we ourselves certainly do change...e.g. I found my old travel journals from aged 20. They are wonderful as an insight to the young woman I was...where did she go?

She and her writing was funny, deep, passionate, honest, and oh so fearless. That's what the fascinating thing about journals is....you can look back years, or even months later and think..."did I really feel that way then" "was I really that depressed when that happened?"......"oh goodness I sound happy in that entry I wrote 7 years ago" (or whatever)

I can quite understand that poem written by you as a 20 year old seemed strange to you. My brave young world traveller's journals seem nothing like the "me" I am today....I guess if I look hard enough I'd find her buried there beneath the years...somewhere.......xx

[quirkywords]

Hello wordy ones,

Moonstruck, thanks for your reply. it is interesting how we react to events, sometimes we write so much and the words pour out of us or we , like you did, are unable to write a word.

There is no sense in it. I suppose the young traveller in you still there. We write the words that reflect who we are at the time.

i still have not started a gratitude journal I want to but I find it a. It forced to write every day but I will think about it.

i sometimes feel I will burst as I have a story to tell. It it is trapped inside my mind.

Quirky