Creative writing can be one of the most relaxing and rewarding experiences when we make time for it in our busy routines. I have been creating my own stories, evolving from a love of reading in my early years, since I was ten years old and have never wanted to do anything else.
As a child we are perhaps at our most creative, yet as adults we seem to put a self-imposed pressure on ourselves to be grown up and professional, and so the creative self can often get left behind. As a writer of novels, articles, review and poetry, my world now revolves around writing and being creative. I regularly write for profit and regularly for my own enjoyment.
Although challenging at times, being creative and writing on a day-to-day basis makes me feel alive and I thrive in a creative environment. I also strongly believe it benefits my own mental health and general well being. There is something soothing and therapeutic about letting the words flow and exploring an idea that interests me. Plus, it can be done anywhere, at anytime, as long as you have the means and the will power.
Amanda Stone is a writer and Psychotherapist based in Solva and has recently began running creative writing workshops. After spending time travelling and working for international charities like ActionAid and Greenpeace on campaigning and communications she wanted to return to studying and had always been interested in psychotherapy. She went on to train as a psychotherapist and yoga teacher.
Amanda has also completed a degree in English and wrote short stories, poems and notes wherever she travelled, with the idea of working on a novel. She has completed her first draft of the novel which is memoir fiction, based around her grandfather’s experiences as a prisoner on the island of Crete during the first world war and hopes to continue work on it. She has since been designing and delivering workshops for over 20 years, working with adults and children in a range of settings. Amanda is co-director of St David’s Connections working on community nature arts and wellbeing workshops in schools and outdoor settings in Pembrokeshire.
Amanda notes the link between the two fields of her work and the positive impact that being creative can have on our mental health and well being.
“There’s a lot of research into the benefits of writing and other forms of creative expression, and the common themes are feeling connected, focused, calmer and inspired. Some people might have learned at school that they’re ‘not very good’ and it’s great to let go of those judgements and try free writing and playful writing exercises. It’s also a bit like mindfulness for some people – if you can lose yourself in writing for a while, and switch off from work or home demands, it can be very pleasing.
It’s something I turn to when I want to work something out for myself or want to capture an experience that has been exciting, interesting or important to me. The more I do it I find that all kinds of memories and conversations surface and I enjoy that discovery and surprise as it’s often unconscious. I know many people I’ve worked with find it calming or enjoyable, but it’s also challenging – that can bring the satisfaction of achievement and expression. I rarely like what I’ve written immediately, but I have learned to come back to it and appreciate it over time, and I encourage people to do the same.
I’ve always been interested in people’s stories and lives, whether in fiction, interviews or in person. So, my writing is usually in the voice of someone I once met or heard a story about, but not an exact version. A colleague once said I’m like a magpie – I pick up lots of seemingly random information and it gives me creative ideas and inspiration.”
Amanda ran an online workshop during the first lockdown supported by Solva Care, when people were feeling a lack of contact and social activity. She also usually runs workshops as part of an annual yoga retreat, but sadly, they have been on hold for the last year but says she hopes to start again soon.
“I’m planning to offer some more workshops online and in a local garden in the future so anyone who’s interested can contact me by email.”
The benefits of creative writing have been documented by many sources.
Proofread.com note 7 key benefits of creative writing for the individual
- – Building Confidence
- – Artistic self-expression
- – Imagination boost
- – Thought clarification
- – Better understanding of reading and writing
- – Empathy and communication skills
- – Better mental, emotional and physical health.
While Goodnet.org notes that writing for just a few minutes a day can have a huge benefit on your mental health, helping us to deal with hard times, increasing our chances of achieving our goals and self-realisation and allowing us to express and process our emotions while learning and gaining perspective about ourselves.
Whether you’re a novice or a regular, here are some things that you can try to kickstart your own creative writing.
8 tips to kick start creative writing
1/ Take a walk or a drive somewhere you haven’t been before. Take along a note pad and pen and notice what you experience around you. A fresh scene can prompt new ideas, sometimes which will come hours later when you have returned home and you’re going about your daily routine.
2/ Flick through a newspaper or magazine and choose a picture or headline that grabs your attention. Then spend 10-15 minutes writing a paragraph based on the image or words that you have chosen. This could develop into a story or poem or even be the basis to a future novel.
3/ Choose a particular style of writing or author that you like and have a go at copying their style. Maybe you are writing a paragraph of a horror story in the style of Daphne Du Maurier, or creating long and descriptive setting like the opening of a Thomas Hardy novel. Have a go at creating fun characters and storylines in the style of children’s authors Roald Dahl or David Walliams.
4/ When you get up in the morning, make some extra time to try some stream of consciousness writing. This is when you just write for 10-15 minutes without stopping, noting down everything and anything that comes to mind. This is a good way to clear out your thoughts as well as to get the creative ideas flowing.
5/ Try taking one of these opening lines and finish the paragraph. One the writing starts to flow, keep going. It might just be the opening to a short story.
She couldn’t believe what she was seeing……
That day started out like any other ….
6/ Pick an object and put it in front of you. It could be a vase, a mug, a book, a flower, an apple…. Take 10 minutes to describe the object in as many ways as you can, without mentioning what it is. Think about colour, texture, smell, touch…. Try to find interesting ways of describing the object and see where your words lead you.
7/ Write a letter to someone you admire. It could be a member of your family, a friend or someone famous like Michael Sheen or Madonna.
8/ Try writing something through the eyes of or with the voice of your pet. If you don’t have a pet, try choosing an animal to voice your story. Amanda had an interesting creative experience writing from the point of view of a Koala, highlighting the devastating effects of climate change.
As part of their Arts Well project, Span Arts are offering a programme of creative writing workshops (Shared Worlds) throughout the summer on zoom, starting 14th July with writer Kerry Steed – Find out more here. Sign up by emailing nia@spanarts.co.uk.
Read more about the benefits of being creative on our mental health at mind.org.uk.
For more tips on creative writing and to learn more about my life and work as a writer, as well as to see exclusive readings, my author Q and A sessions and other online events visit my Facebook page and website. Find more about Amanda Stone’s writing work shops by emailing stone.amanda5@gmail.com
