Creative writing is an essential skill for children to develop. It is considered to be a “right-brained” activity, which means that it requires intelligence, imagination, and a good sense of narrative. The benefits of creative writing extend beyond academics and can be found in everyday life. Below we will discuss three reasons why creative writing is so important in your life.
1. It Develops Critical Thinking
An important aspect of creative writing is that it develops critical thinking. Simply put, critical thinking is the ability to examine something carefully and thoughtfully, and then analyze and evaluate it objectively. To be able to do this, you need to be able to listen to both sides of an argument, be able to identify patterns, and be able to synthesize information correctly. These are all things that can be developed through creative writing.
If you’re familiar with the work of Russian psychologist and psychoanalyst, Alfred Adler, you’ll understand what we mean by this. In his book, The Practice of Psychotherapy, Adler described how, in order to analyze and determine the cause of a problem, you have to be able to consider all of the possible aspects that could contribute to it. This aspect of critical thinking can be developed through creative writing, as you bring your own experiences to the table and examine how the events of your life have shaped you as a person. In a strange way, bringing your personal experiences to the page allows you to become detached from your own reactions, and instead, see everything clearly. It can also help you find the underlying cause of a problem you’re facing, which can then be properly addressed.
2. It Allows For Self-reflection
Another important aspect of creative writing is that it allows for self-reflection. This is closely related to the previous point. When you are actively engaged in the process of writing, you are forced to examine your life and the things that have happened to you. It can help you find patterns that you might otherwise miss if you were just to glance over your daily activities. When you are writing, you are also reading what you’ve written. This gives you the opportunity to examine your work critically and make necessary changes. This is why, in some ways, creative writing can be considered a form of psychotherapy. It can help you discover who you are and what you want from life, as well as give you a new perspective on things.
3. It Can Be Fun
Finally, we want to bring your attention to the fact that creative writing can be a lot of fun. When you are playing with words on a page, or making up characters and scenarios, it can be a form of creative expression that is completely detached from reality. You don’t have to be restricted by the words that exist in dictionaries, as you are when you are writing in your own words. This allows for a lot of artistic freedom, which can be both liberating and fun. Artistic freedom is important, as you can see above, because it allows for self-reflection. When you are playing with words and images on a page, you are forced to look at yourself and your life from a different perspective. This can sometimes be fun, but often it is also very frustrating, as you might discover things about yourself that you didn’t want to know. But in the end, none of this is wasted, because even these discoveries can later be used to help you develop as a person. So, while it might not always seem like it, taking the time to play with words and images on a page can sometimes be a rewarding experience.
Whether you consider yourself a serious essayist or a quick-witted playwright, there is still a lot to be gained from taking time out of your day to write. Below we have compiled a shortlist of what we feel are the essentials for every writer to have in their tool kit.
What writers should have in their tool kit
As a writer, you will almost certainly face the question of what exactly you should have in your tool kit. The below list details some of the essentials that we feel every writer should have. As you may notice, many of these items relate to words and letter-writing. Since we already spoke about the importance of words in your life, it is no surprise that they should form part of your tool kit. Below we have compiled a shortlist of essential items that every writer should have in their tool kit.
Stationery
First of all, you will need a nice, sturdy, notebook to write in. When choosing the notebook, make sure that it is of good quality and has plenty of pages. Also, the size of the notebook you choose will be determined by how much you plan on writing. If you plan on writing long, drawn-out essays, go for a large notebook. Alternatively, if you just want to write down some quick thoughts as you go through your day, a smaller notebook will suffice. When choosing the notebook, don’t just think about price, but also about the type of paper you will use and how you will dispose of it afterwards.
Fine-tooth Combing Crops
Next, you will need to choose a pair of scissors to cut your hair with. You might find it helpful to write down a few different notes on hair-cutting: what size and shape of scissors you need, whether you want your hair to be on the long or short side, etc. As you get more experienced, you will find the process of cutting your hair much more relaxing: it is all about following the process systematically and being relaxed while doing it. Cutting your hair with the proper pair of scissors will make a world of difference, and it will give you that extra edge in terms of looking professional. When choosing the scissors, again, focus on the material they are made of and whether or not they are sharp.
A Trimmer
A trimmer is an essential item for every writer. Without it, you would either have to write on a computer or sit and edit your work on a printed out page. Aside from being tedious, this second option makes it much harder to make necessary changes once you have finished: it is all too easy to make a mistake on a printed page, and then you have to start all over again from the beginning. For this reason, we recommend getting a trimmer. Some people also prefer to write on a PC rather than a physical notebook, as they find it more convenient. Still, we recommend that you get a trimmer, as it makes writing much more convenient and less prone to mistakes.
A Pair Of 2-way Radios
Two-way radios are great for communicating with other people while you are driving. This is especially useful if you are in an area where cellphone reception is poor, or if you just want to be sure that you can still communicate effectively even when there is interference or noise. If you have a choice, always get the walkie-talkie rather than the car radio, as the former has much clearer sound quality and allows for more effective communication. In terms of the model, make sure that it is high-quality and has a good range. You will also need a pair of these in case one breaks down or stops working. If you have kids in the car, you might want to get a second pair just in case they turn on the music too loud and you can’t hear what the person on the other end is saying to you.
A Good Stereo
A good stereo is essential for every writer. It is made up of two parts: a tuner and a speaker. The first one tunes in the music that you play, whether it is coming in from a CD, an MP3 player, or an online stream. The speaker plays the music back, so you can hear it clearly. You will need to put in the time to learn how to use your stereo properly: if you are not sure how, ask someone who is. But once you get the hang of it, you will wonder how you did without one. In addition to being able to listen to music while you work, a good stereo will also allow you to play music as you work, eliminating additional work after hours. In case you decide that you don’t like one of the albums you have, you can always change it with the touch of a button.