Aside from becoming a published author, what are the benefits of creative writing?
At first, I wondered if it was right to teach people to write creatively, when becoming a published writer is so hard. But after a while, I found out two things: that the people who were only interested in publication quickly dropped out, and that the other benefits of creative writing were many. First of all, creativity is fun, and adults need to play. There is a sense of community among artists. One Zona Rosan ‘s life totally changed when he first became a writer, then a painter. He’s still a Vietnam vet who builds racing car motors for a living, but now he’s also a poet who reads at open mike readings, has published a collection of his poems, and recently had his first one-man show. He’s having a ball. And it all started at Zona Rosa. More important is creative writing’s healing effect. Research among seniors has shown that creative writing actually reduces blood pressure. But the main benefit may be psychological. My mother committed suicide, my father was an oft-abusive alcoholic;
