We all know that writing is a creative activity. But did you know that it is also a therapeutic activity to help us deal with trauma and hardship? When I use therapeutic writing, it enables me to distance myself from my thoughts and feelings and observe them objectively. 

But what are the four types of therapeutic writing, and how does it benefit writers?

1. Free-flow writing

When you engage in free-flow writing, you write about whatever comes to mind. Since you are writing without judgment and any editing, it engages your subconscious mind and enables you to make creative connections between unrelated things. 

Free writing is an excellent way to overcome writer's block. Many writers struggle to start writing when faced with a blank page and the endless flickering of the cursor on the screen. Free-flow writing often kickstarts my creativity and works best when I turn off my spell-check and editing software. Fortunately, correcting any mistakes and removing irrelevant parts afterward is simple when you write on your computer.

Free-flow writing can lead to unexpected turns in your novel and surprising character traits for your characters.

2. Journalling

The most common form of therapeutic writing is journaling. It allows me to write down my thoughts, experiences, and feelings and is a form of free-flow writing. Through journalling, I became comfortable identifying and expressing my emotions, enabling me to describe my characters' feelings better.

The experiences I record in my journal are also valuable when plotting a novel or short story. And journalling fits right into the advice of many famous writers: always carry a notebook to record your experiences, interesting people, and places you encounter.

3. Writing Poetry

Writing poetry is a way of expressive art therapy and uses various poetic forms for healing. When I write poetry, it enables me to express my feelings with the use of poetic devices such as rhyme, metaphors, etc. 

The specific forms of the poetic devices force me to be disciplined in my writing to ensure that I conform to the criteria of the particular poetic form I use. Poetry also teaches me to appreciate the beauty of language and how I can use it to express my thoughts and feelings.

Many poetic devices,e.g., metaphors, personification, similies, etc., are also used in storytelling. Poetry offers a fun and creative way to explore and master these devices, and these skills can enhance your novel's narrative. 

Write a letter

Many people who have experienced trauma from violent acts against them struggle to forgive. Therapists often recommend writing a letter to the person who wronged them. Even though you will rarely send these letters to that person, it enables you to express your hurt and anger and make peace with what happened. 

Writers can use this as a tool to explore the feelings of their characters when they let them write a letter to the antagonist in the novel. They can even discover possible solutions to conflicts between characters through these letters.

Writers also experience challenges and hurt throughout their lives. And besides the therapeutic use of these four types of therapeutic writing, they also have the extra benefit of gaining valuable insights and content to draw from in their books. Which one of these therapeutic writing forms will you try today?