Comments on: Writing, Stress, and You http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/ About the craft and business of genre fiction Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:30:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: strugglingwriter http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8660 Thu, 12 Apr 2007 15:37:13 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8660 This may be true for writing non-fiction, but I think my stress level increases when I'm writing (or trying to write) fiction. Something about the pressure I put on myself, I guess. This may be true for writing non-fiction, but I think my stress level increases when I’m writing (or trying to write) fiction. Something about the pressure I put on myself, I guess.

]]> by: Elena Greene http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8654 Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:05:03 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8654 I'm one who finds journaling very therapeutic. There's something wonderful about venting onto paper all the things that would not be wise to say to anyone! I've also recently discovered that free writing (longhand) about problems in my mess-in-progress is often a good way to brainstorm solutions. Which also reduces stress. :) I’m one who finds journaling very therapeutic. There’s something wonderful about venting onto paper all the things that would not be wise to say to anyone!

I’ve also recently discovered that free writing (longhand) about problems in my mess-in-progress is often a good way to brainstorm solutions. Which also reduces stress. :)

]]> by: Christine Gorman http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8650 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:48:16 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8650 Interesting. I took up journaling again while writing that stressful article on stress for TIME. I suspect you have to write things out by hand to get the greatest stress reduction. That's certainly been my experience. That's confirmed by James Pennebaker, chairman of the Psychology Department at the University of Texas, who was quoted in the news item you cited. "Writing with pen and paper is probably better than typing because it slows the process down," Pennebaker says. "You're forced to think more." Interesting. I took up journaling again while writing that stressful article on stress for TIME.

I suspect you have to write things out by hand to get the greatest stress reduction. That’s certainly been my experience.

That’s confirmed by James Pennebaker, chairman of the Psychology Department at the University of Texas, who was quoted in the news item you cited.

“Writing with pen and paper is probably better than typing because it slows the process down,” Pennebaker says. “You’re forced to think more.”

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8648 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 18:56:12 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8648 We really should do a post on journaling. I don't do it myself, but I know lots of folks who do, Brenda. I should give it a whirl instead of ripping out the pages and using them for my grocery lists. We really should do a post on journaling. I don’t do it myself, but I know lots of folks who do, Brenda. I should give it a whirl instead of ripping out the pages and using them for my grocery lists.

]]> by: Brenda Oig http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8636 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:46:10 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8636 This is interesting. I found that my stress level really dropped when I started journaling several years ago. Now I can't live without it. When I'm really stressed I find myself immediately turning to it. I have a harder time writing creatively when I'm stressed, but journaling comes really easy. So often I start out my writing session with my journal and then move to the novel. It helps to calm me and get into the writing mode. This is interesting. I found that my stress level really dropped when I started journaling several years ago. Now I can’t live without it. When I’m really stressed I find myself immediately turning to it. I have a harder time writing creatively when I’m stressed, but journaling comes really easy. So often I start out my writing session with my journal and then move to the novel. It helps to calm me and get into the writing mode.

]]> by: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8635 Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:08:04 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8635 I feel edgy when I skip a day or two of writing too. Maybe our brains need the "high" that comes from creativity. I feel edgy when I skip a day or two of writing too. Maybe our brains need the “high” that comes from creativity.

]]> by: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8546 Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:30:15 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/04/11/writing-stress-and-you/#comment-8546 This helps explain why stress swells for me when I'm <i>not</i> writing. It's not just about writers' guilt; it's about skipping the daily anxiolytic. Great post, Kath! This helps explain why stress swells for me when I’m not writing. It’s not just about writers’ guilt; it’s about skipping the daily anxiolytic.

Great post, Kath!

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