Are there benefits of creative writing that go beyond just expressing yourself? Well, yeah.
One of the key objectives of educators at arts academy middle schools and high schools is to build a strong sense of community for the students so they feel they’re in a safe haven. And creative writing does just that.
When students are able to share their stories of resilience and bravery, it gives them a common link. Plus, it keeps these qualities at the forefront of their minds to foster a growth mindset.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
The Many Benefits of Creative Writing
The importance of establishing a safe space where students can express themselves cannot be overstated. But there is a multitude of other benefits to creative writing. It can help students with the following:
1. Clarifying Thoughts
As much as creative writing allows for emotional release, it also is a great way to clarify one’s thoughts. For students who are facing a presentation or struggling with an assignment, writing a short story to help them sort out the details and imagine how they’ll tackle it can be tremendously helpful.
By putting into words this imaginary scenario, they can more concretely see what thoughts they’re working with, which ones are working for them, and, more importantly, which are not serving them.
2. Learning the Mechanics of Reading and Writing
The sheer act of regular writing is an exercise in grasping the rules of grammar, spelling, and sentence construction. It’s also an opportunity for students to expand their vocabulary.
This isn’t to say that it’s all technical though. As students engage in regular creative writing assignments, they begin to figure out how to more effectively connect with readers while establishing a flow. From there they can begin to experiment with breaking the rules to create more compelling work.
3. Boosting Confidence
One of the greatest values of creative writing is the ability to find one’s voice. Students are able to explore and express how they feel about topics, characters, perspectives, and philosophies so they can feel more confident in the opinions they express.
Creative writing also lends to academic writing. Once a student finds his or her unique voice, they’re able to incorporate it skillfully into academic writing pieces to keep them from sounding dry and humdrum.
4. Improving Communication Skills
When students are able to create entirely different universes with dynamic characters, emotions, and settings, the outcome is increased empathy. They’re able to better understand that there are many different ways to live life. 
In turn, when they’re able to grasp these other perspectives, it improves their communication skills. They’re better also to figure out how to explain and discuss issues from different vantage points. This is an invaluable life skill that will come in useful as they grow into young adults.
5. Demonstrating Self-Expression
Students involved in a regular creative writing regimen are engaged in self-expression that could be likened to therapy. The ability to self-express enables students to navigate their negative emotions and thoughts in a healthy way rather than acting them out.
For example, a student might be feeling stressed about a situation in the classroom or on the school’s campus. By taking a short break to write out what they’re feeling, they can see more clearly the negative emotion and then do something proactive to deal with it. Self-expression is also crucial for sorting out emotions from stress and trauma.
6. Fostering Imagination
The world is forever telling us the value of thinking outside the box. Yet, artists and writers get a lot of slack for appearing frivolous in their creativity. Who has time to sit around and write silly stories?
But the truth is, creative writing stimulates and pushes the imagination and forces students to think outside that proverbial box. It trains their brains to become more adept at discovering alternatives and conjuring new solutions to problems. And the world can always use more of that.
7. Providing Better Overall Health
At the end of the day, studies show that creative and expressive writing goes the distance in yielding not only better mental and emotional health, but also physical health. It makes sense – given the mind and body connection.
When the mind is freed up from negative thinking and emotions and is permitted to be expressive, it alleviates stress on the body which, in turn, leads to better physical health.
Does Creative Writing Drive Your Child?
Is your child is forever buried in a notebook or on a laptop writing? If so, it may be time to enroll him or her into an arts academy middle school/high school where they can shine.
Contact us today to request a tour of our school. And take advantage of the multiple benefits of creative writing for your child.