WRITING AS THERAPY

My submission explaining my reasons for writing and the points of view I employ

WRITING AS THERAPY

Dear People Reading This…

I have recently concluded that the written word was the best form of therapy ever created. When you see your experiences and feelings placed before you in black and white on the page seems to make them less traumatic because you can look at them objectively. 

I have heard that legitimate therapists actually require their clients to keep journals for the same reasons I just mentioned. Others recommend clients write letters to their tormentors explaining the abuse they had endured, then burn them as a personal declaration of independence. 

In my case, I began writing because I was cursed with a debilitating stutter that caused me to become shy and withdrawn. I knew I had something to say, but could not express myself verbally. I wrote poems, sketches, and stories; however, my family and friends refused to take me seriously. 

These were not the only formats employed. I discovered that my writings take on a different perspective depending on the point of view used by the author. 

In my opinion, the first-person point of view has proven to be both the easiest and the most difficult for beginning writers. It is easier because this is the way most people tell a story. It is the most difficult because it forces writers to “open a vein”, “wash their dirty laundry in public”, or relive the subject they are describing. Now, on a positive note, it makes their circumstances public knowledge. This could mean the writer attracts allies who have experienced similar circumstances; however, there could also be the chance for distractors who offer nothing but contempt. 

I would say the most difficult point of view to write in is the second person. Even though it gives the author and the subject matter, it also tends to sound as if an accusation. Depending on how it is written, the reader may conclude that the author has taken complete responsibility for their afflictions rather than their assailants and perpetrators. I guess this could be the reason there are very few literary works written from this point of view. 

Now, the most difficult point of view to write in could be the omnipresent third-person point of view. The author could be completely objective due to their experiences and feelings being presented as if they were being shown either in a movie or on television. This point of view gives beginning writers fits because they have a difficult time detaching themselves from their works. 

In conclusion, I have reclaimed my muse after she had taken an unscheduled sabbatical. I plan to submit articles and essays to a number of platforms. I invite my followers, subscribers, and others to submit constructive critiques rather than harsh criticisms. 

Author's Note

As usual, I request that my contemporaries leave constructive critiques rather than harsh criticisms.