We authors may be creative cheats, but is there any good news about our profession? Actually, yes! According to research cited by Arts.Mic, the benefits of writing go far beyond building up your vocabulary.
In fact, the act of writing itself leads to strong physical and mental health benefits, like long-term improvements in mood, stress levels and depressive symptoms. Just 15 to 20 minutes of writing three to five times over the course of the four-month study was enough to make a difference.
By writing about traumatic, stressful or emotional events, participants were significantly more likely to have fewer illnesses and be less affected by trauma. Participants ultimately spent less time in the hospital, enjoyed lower blood pressure and had better liver functionality than their counterparts.
Even physical wounds heal faster. In 2013, New Zealand researchers conducted an experiment on 49 adults. The patients wrote about their thoughts and feelings for just 20 minutes, three days in a row, two weeks before a biopsy. Eleven days later, 76% of the group that wrote had fully healed, compared to only 42% of the control group. The study concluded that writing about distressing events helped participants make sense of the events and reduce distress.
Even those who suffer from diseases such as asthma, AIDS and cancer can improve their health through writing: people with asthma who write have fewer attacks than those who don’t; AIDS patients have higher T-cell counts and cancer patients have more optimistic perspectives and improved quality of life.
It’s possible that the health-giving effects of writing are because it allows people to take a step back and evaluate their lives. Instead of obsessing unhealthily over an event, they can focus on moving forward. By doing so, stress levels go down and health correspondingly goes up.
The great news is that you don’t have to be a serious novelist or constantly reflecting on your life’s most traumatic moments to get these great benefits. Even blogging or journaling is enough to see results. Indeed, one study found that blogging might trigger dopamine release, similar to the effect from running or listening to music.
From long-term health improvements to short-term benefits like sleeping better, it’s official: We writers are doing something right.
Don’t forget that, for a few more days, The Power of Six will be on sale. Read seven short sci-fi stories for only 99c!
mihrank said:
Nicholas – You are correct – I have to say you have such healthy and active post! Winning Award! Well Deserve!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you! 🙂
LikeLike
jorobinson176 said:
Reblogged this on Jo Robinson.
LikeLiked by 1 person
faranastus said:
This I never considered. What an eye-opener!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I know, right?? Thanks and welcome! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
sknicholls said:
Finally! Some good news for writers. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – the world is our oyster! 😀
LikeLike
Jack Eason said:
Reblogged this on Have We Had Help? and commented:
An interesting alternative view on writing. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
janetweightreed10 said:
Exccellent – I will re blog and yes writing does make us healthier:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you in advance for the reblog – and I agree completely 🙂
LikeLike
Mira Prabhu said:
Reblogged this on mira prabhu and commented:
Writing Makes You Healthy…thanks Nicholas Rossis!
LikeLiked by 1 person
thenoveilst said:
Insightful 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks and welcome! Love your email handle – alethia (truth in Greek) 🙂
LikeLike
thenoveilst said:
Thank you and thank you 🙂 Wishing you well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
john flanagan said:
Love this!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks and welcome! Yes, it’s quite amazing 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
patriciaruthsusan said:
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
This is great news, especially to bloggers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Suzanne Joshi said:
That’s great news Nicholas. I reblogged it on Musings On Life & Experience
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you so much for that! 🙂
LikeLike
Suzanne Joshi said:
You’re very welcome. 🙂
LikeLike
John W. Howell said:
No wonder I am so healthy. *cough* Great post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – yes, it’s all thanks to our writing! 😀 *cough, sputter, creak, cough*
LikeLiked by 1 person
Charles Yallowitz said:
Interesting experiments and findings. Makes me think the world would be a better place if everyone kept a diary, wrote a book, or had a blog. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Now, there is a thought.
Interesting factoid: The Economist had a lovey feature on publishing this week. It mentioned worries about the “tsunami of crap” being as old as Gutenberg. Apparently, authors at the time complained that, with everyone able to publish, they’d have a flood of crappy books in their hands…
LikeLike
Charles Yallowitz said:
I’ve read a few articles that mentioned something similar. It’s like every innovation to publishing causes the same worry. Though there is a chance that such a tsunami does occur at first and dies down after the new system is proven not to be a sure moneymaker and novelty wears off.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I think it’s the birthing pains of the new paradigm, and the inevitable fear all change causes.
LikeLike
Charles Yallowitz said:
Birthing pains is a good name for it. Though I do remember there being more ‘crank out cheap, unedited books’ authors when I started last year. The flood seems to have died down, so maybe we’re at a point where the stigma will go away. Either way, all we can really do is put out good indie books and continue proving it’s a viable, quality publishing route.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I will publish a few posts inspired by the Economist, but here is the original article: http://www.economist.com/news/essays/21623373-which-something-old-and-powerful-encountered-vault
I’m copying:
“At last spring’s London Book Fair there was a booth rented by eight authors who said that, between them, they had sold a staggering 16m books and spent weeks on the New York Times bestseller list—all without the help of a traditional publisher.
They are used to having their claims dismissed; Bella Andre, a self-published romance writer with an economics degree from Stanford, got so irked when a publisher challenged her heady sales figures that she took a picture of a bank statement and sent it to him.
“No one is counting our books in any survey that comes out in the media,” sighed Barbara Freethy, another romance writer. She says that, as of September, she has sold over 4.8m books.”
LikeLike
Charles Yallowitz said:
Impressive. Though I do note that the two authors quoted are romance authors and I’m willing to bet the other 6 are the same. That’s one thing that I can’t figure out with indie publishing. Romance is the King, Queen, and President of the realm while most other genres are below the radar. It keeps feeling like you need to have a romance focus in your book to get anywhere. I wonder if this means female readers are more curious than male readers since I know women are certainly the bigger book audience.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
It might. Then again, I recently read an article that argued fantasy is a big thing, too. Kinda news to me, but I enjoyed being with the “in” crowd for a moment… 😀
LikeLike
Charles Yallowitz said:
News to me too. I’ve been having an uphill battle most of the year. I have seen a lot of fantasy books are doing a romance focus or at least using a cover that resembles something you’d find Fabio on. Maybe more in the genre are trying to combine the two since love stories with magic are rather classic. There’s also the fact that ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Hobbit’ are popular.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Hmm… I wonder if the movies is what the article had in mind. Plus, the whole Game of Thrones craze.
LikeLike
Charles Yallowitz said:
That is a double-edged sword. The craze brings people into the genre, but most of them want Game of Thrones clones. I’ve run into my share of them since I’m not even close to that type of story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sally Ember, Ed.D. said:
Reblogged this on Sally Ember, Ed.D. and commented:
“…the act of writing itself leads to strong physical and mental health benefits, like long-term improvements in mood, stress levels and depressive symptoms. Just 15 to 20 minutes of writing three to five times over the course of the four-month study was enough to make a difference.” http://nicholasrossis.me/2014/10/19/writing-makes-you-healthy/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Writing Makes you Healthy | Sally Ember, Ed.D.
Sally Ember, Ed.D. said:
“…the act of writing itself leads to strong physical and mental health benefits, like long-term improvements in mood, stress levels and depressive symptoms. Just 15 to 20 minutes of writing three to five times over the course of the four-month study was enough to make a difference.” is my favorite part and the part I reblogged/shared everywhere. Thanks, Nicholas, for posting!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
A pleasure. It is rather amazing how something so simple can have such a profound effect. Thank you for the reblog! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
First Night Design said:
I’ve always known this from my own experiences. Good to see it confirmed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Indeed. Like Charles said, perhaps we should make it obligatory for people to keep a journal! 😀
LikeLike
christineplouvier said:
I’m glad to see that the research about this is finally getting public attention. Baikie and Wilhelm’s meta-analysis is a great article. I especially like that “Participants writing about imaginary traumas that they had not actually experienced, and therefore could not have inhibited, also demonstrated significant improvements in physical health (Greenberg et al, 1996)” [as cited by Baikie and Wilhelm]. That’s why I think it’s so important for writers not to get uptight about “the rules.”
And remember, eating chocolate has documented health benefits, too! 🙂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Wow, you really seem to be familiar with the research behind it!
I agree completely about the rules. Many of them miss the point – and it’s always sad when critics bring authors down because of some made-up rule.
Chocolate, huh? (munch munch)
LikeLike
Elle Boca said:
What encouraging news. Now we have another reason to write, our health! Thanks Nicholas for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – to your health, then! 🙂
LikeLike
Thomas Weaver said:
Thank you so much for sharing this.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment! It’s great to see you here (I follow your blog) 🙂
LikeLike
Jen from Universe B said:
Thank you for this post! Couldn’t agree more about the power of writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks and welcome! Yes, it’s wonderful how something so simple can have such a profound effect! 🙂
LikeLike
Kathryn Chastain Treat said:
Writing helped me with my illness related depression.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I was, actually, thinking of your example when I was writing your post. 🙂
LikeLike
elsa@serendipity said:
This is so true. Writing indeed is another form of setting yourself free and letting your mind takeover your entire being. All of a sudden we become our own masters and we decide it all for ourselves. Even if it is for a few minutes, the bliss remains all through the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That is such a wonderful way of describing it! Thank you! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
elsa@serendipity said:
You are welcome Nicholas and thank you for having this piece of your mind published. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
danniehill said:
I’ve no doubt of the truth of you post, Nicholas. I’ve no doubt because I am one of those that writing keeps on the narrow path. I’d like to add that not only writing about traumatic, stressful or emotional events, but about one’s vision of redemption, love and hope can do so much for the individual that puts pen to paper.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
A great point! Thanks for reminding us of that fact 🙂
LikeLike
Ali Isaac said:
That’s cool! But what about RSI from typing, headaches from staring at a screen, hunched back, blood clots from sitting and not moving enough, not to mention weight gain from this sedentary occupation of ours? There may be benefits, and I’m glad to see that there are, but I think we should get danger money for daring to do this occupation!
BTW writing is cathartic; it has helped me cope during some very difficult times with my daughter’s syndrome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
The more I think of it, the more I agree! Danger money, huh? You have my attention! 😀
I started writing when going through a hard time professionally, with new ventures failing to take off and daily frustrations of epic proportions. So I, too, speak from experience, even it’s nothing compared to yours. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
kirizar said:
This is a very timely post. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thank you and welcome! I’m glad you found it useful! 🙂
LikeLike
cav12 said:
Hmmm… not sure about that. I stress regardless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Sooo… imagine how stressed you’d be if you didn’t write! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
cav12 said:
I’d have no fingernails left! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
D.G.Kaye said:
I will agree to a degree. It’s cathartic to release our pent up emotions on paper, plus great brain exercise. On the flipside, the longer we write, the bigger our hips can grow, lol. (If we don’t get up every hour and keep eating. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
It’s like Ali said, we should get danger money for daring to do this occupation! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
D.G.Kaye said:
LOL no kidding! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
marjma2014 said:
Interesting! Is that why I healed so quickly after my Gall Bladder op, even when I was under the general anaesthetic I was still thinking about writing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
How??? Please tell me you were not conscious at the time! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
marjma2014 said:
No, I wasn’t conscious! I have been known to do without an dentist’s injection for fillings but that would be taking it too far! When I came to, it was the first thing I thought about so I assumed that I had my mind had been busily blogging while I was under the knife!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – now *that’s* one dedicated blogger! 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
marjma2014 said:
It is taking it a bit far!
LikeLiked by 1 person
LaTanya Davis said:
Reblogged this on Memoir Notes.
LikeLiked by 1 person