The Benefits of Writing
As I reflect upon this past year, I have realized that I have learned a lot about writing in the recent past. The more I write, the more confidence I gain as a writer.
I enjoy writing fiction because it allows me to explore the unfamiliar. I write characters unlike myself and I have them participate in activities I would not normally engage in. I also discover skills in my writing that I didn’t know were in me.
It has taken me a while to learn how to write strong characters that are compelling. I used to think that it was enough to write about someone who was broken, who was struggling with self-love or self-worth or have a sense of victimhood. While they may have aspects of these qualities, this isn’t all they can be.
What I have had to learn, is that the characters still need to be active and passionate about something. They definitely need to be faulted in some way, but not broken, and if they are broken, they need to figure out a way to stand up, grow and develop. No one likes wimpy characters.
Fiction also allows me to explore the familiar. I write about traits within me or people I know, I give my characters my hobbies and interests, and I place them in settings I have visited. I give a voice to the experiences in my life under the cover of made-up scenes. I also write poetry, which offers a deeper exploration of my…
