The benefits of writing for yourself

When juggling a full-time job with socialising and household chores, it can be difficult to make time for the hobbies you love.

For me, it’s definitely my writing that’s taken a back seat in the last couple of years, particularly while i’ve been focused on improving my fitness. Between work, running, netball and buying my first house, I just haven’t managed to find time.

Writing is such a fantastic activity in so many ways, so I wanted to share a few reasons why I love it.

It’s therapeutic – Keeping a diary or journal is the best kind of therapy I can think off. It’s a brilliant way to express yourself and be completely honest about how you feel and what you’re thinking. For me, it’s also a great chance to reflect and remind myself to be grateful for all the things I have.

It reminds me of my goals – writing a novel has been one of my goals as long as I can remember, so nothing beats the sense of achievement I feel when I’ve spent a few hours writing. I always feel great when I hit a certain word count or finish a short story and it puts me in a great mood.

I’m in full control – As somebody who writes for a living, it can be frustrating when your words are altered by others. When writing for yourself, you are in total control of your work, which means you get to make all the important decisions. Everything from word choices to genre to character names, it’s all down to you.

It helps me to improve – Because writing is so subjective, there’s no right or wrong way to do things. However, it’s still really important to practice your craft and continually improve. This isn’t possible unless you’re actively writing – you can’t edit a blank page, after all.

Despite my lack of free time, I’m determined to get back into writing for myself. No deadlines, nobody to impress, no expectations – just a chance to whack out my battered notebooks and get creative.