Writing For Fun: Discover a New JOurneY

If you’re not writing for fun, you just might be missing out on a fun hobby that can help your mind, body, and soul.

Whoa, writing can do all that? Yes, it really can! Writing for fun has many benefits and it can be oddly freeing.

And your level of writing  skills doesn’t matter. There’s no test and no rules, you just get to do whatever form of writing brings you joy.

Sound good? I hope so! Let’s take a look at:

• Some reasons you might want to write
• A few alternatives on how to get started

“Start writing, no matter what. The water does not flow until the faucet is turned on.” — Louis L’Amour

My Story: The Spark that Inspired Me to Write

My interest in writing was sparked decades ago during my first week of college, thanks to Mary Ellen Ducklow, a professor who made a lasting impact on my life.

On day one of English class, she had us write a few paragraphs about ourselves. The next day in class, she read out loud a few examples of really good opening sentences… and mine was one.

I know, big deal. But it was a boost in confidence that I really needed at that time.

You see, after high school I worked for a few years, and then quit work to go to college full-time. I went from being a financially stable, successful secretary, to a non-traditional college student who anxiously wondered if I was smart enough to earn a bachelor’s degree.

Mary Ellen’s one small gesture of recognizing my work turned my mindset around and I went on to confidently and successfully graduate from college.

A few weeks after Mary Ellen gave me my confidence boost, she asked me to be the co-editor of the student newspaper. That opportunity, along with the writing skills she taught, provided a spark that ignited a joy I had no idea was within me.

Mary Ellen has since passed away, but I still hold great appreciation for her getting my college career off to a great start. Throughout my career, writing has always been an important part of every job. Now with If It Brings You Joy (this blog), writing for fun truly brings me joy.

The Joys of Writing (or Blogging) For Fun

I’m (mostly) an introvert and draw energy from spending time alone, so writing for fun on a blog seemed to be a good fit. I get a natural joy from getting lost in writing and enhancing posts with photos. Yes, I may spend a little too much time on Pinterest, but it’s fun and I don’t plan to lessen my fun time.

Of course you don’t  need to be an introvert to enjoy writing. There are many reasons people enjoy writing for fun.

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Good Reasons to Write For Fun

Here are some of the top reasons for writing based on opinions of my own as well as fellow bloggers with whom I’ve connected.

1 – Writing is a creative outlet.

Writing can be a fun hobby that helps you express yourself, and expressing  yourself can be invigorating! As you get into whatever you’re writing about, your mind takes off and words flow. That focus is really fun and time will fly by.

On the flip side, writing is actually very relaxing.

In an atmosphere of relaxed creativity, you might start writing about one thing, and as your brain relaxes, your story suddenly takes a turn into a whole different direction. As you begin to write, you’ll explore an idea and it may take on a new life of it’s own.

Fictional creative writing can be a fun way to escape from reality.

Your thoughts are jogged by the process. Both fictional and factual writing styles give you the opportunity to be creative.

Look at writing for fun like working on a puzzle. You put some pieces together, walk away, and then come back with a refreshed perspective to finish it off. The joy is in the process.

2 – Writing can help you recover, heal, and grow.

Healing can come out of writing. Writing for fun is therapeutic and can help you get through a life challenge such as a divorce, serious illness, or any other life situation.

Let your thoughts roll out of your head onto the paper (or computer), and you might be surprised with what you’ll learn from your own words.

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” ― Maya Angelou

3 – Writing is relaxing.

As you write, you may very well find that your brain relaxes. Let your thoughts go where they want, and you’ll connect ideas.

My husband recently pointed out that the muscle knots in my upper back and neck that I had for years have mysteriously all but disappeared since I started blogging. I believe my blogging hobby has given me a stress outlet.

My fun time I set aside for writing and blogging allows me to forget daily stressors, and that space is replaced with focus and peace.

Writing impacts how I feel, and it keeps my brain active.

Overall, many people (including me) simply find joy in writing.

Take a Baby Step

If writing for fun sounds like something you may possibly enjoy, get started today with a baby step.

Journaling is a great way to begin writing. A personal journal can be like a diary where you write your thoughts, daily experiences, or even a short fictional story. Whatever you’re inspired to write, just write it in your journal.

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Journals Available on Amazon.
(Click image to view the journal.)

Each evening when I get ready for sleep, I like to journal three positives that happened in my day. Not only does it get me writing, overtime this habit will help you be a more positive person. (Read more about creating positive habits.)

I created a Free Daily Positives Journal page for you to use as your personal tool for adding  positivity into your day.

Use it to focus your attention on what is going right in your life instead of what’s going wrong. A couple minutes every day will help you appreciate all that you have, and I want you to have it for free. Just fill out this form:

 

Reasons Why You Might Want to Blog For Fun

First, what is a blog? Here is how Google defines it:

So a blog is just a website that a person or small group writes in their own personal style about whatever topic they desire.

Bloggers usually write from a personal perspective, and that helps readers feel connected. It can be written in whatever style the blogger is comfortable,  but blogs often tend to be informal and a conversational style.

Large companies often have a blog, but generally it’s used to educate their customers, not make sales pitches.

In addition to every reason to write for fun mentioned above, taking your writing a step further and making it public on a blog presents some additional benefits.

1 – Share your experiences and ideas via blogging.

You have a message to share, every one of us does.

The power of sharing your ideas is immense. There is a great feeling of freedom when you can let yourself go into a whole new journey in your life.

Share your stories, thoughts, reviews, experiences, what you learned, fictional stories, and anything else that feels right for you.

One option is to preserve the stories that make you who you are. Blogging will be therapeutic for you, and reading your stories will be interesting and educational to others. Pass on your traditions, culture, and passions by documenting your thoughts and stories.

2 – Blogging give you opportunities to connect and engage.

Blogging can open the doors to connecting with endless people who share your passions. There is a whole digital community waiting for you!

It’s really easy to meet fellow bloggers online. There are loads of blogging communities on Facebook. Find a few that fit your style, and you’ll be able to communicate with new people who might live on the other side of the globe from you.

It’s pretty sweet to make friends with no boundaries in regard to where you live. You all have writing and blogging is common, and everyone is happy to help you learn about blogging.

If you take the time to truly connect, you’ll engage with people and make a difference in your life and the lives of others.

3 – Blogging can help you and others recover, heal, and grow.

Again, healing can come out of writing. Writing doesn’t just help you, it can also help anyone who reads what you wrote. Everyone wins.

If you blog publicly about a life challenge, your message might resonate with others who have a similar challenge. Your words could be exactly what someone needed to read that day.

Learning helps us grow. A blog can also be motivational for you to continue learning and growing. Write about what you learn, and you’ll have reason to keep learning.

Also, by writing down an idea in a way that someone else can understand it, it becomes clearer to yourself. You may find much needed clarity.

Writing helps me grow because I often write about something I’ve learned. Learn → Write. Learn → Write.  Rinse, repeat, and have fun. Great formula for personal growth.

Read more about how blogging has helped me expand my comfort zone.

Overcoming the Excuses

I’m guessing you might be thinking that starting a blog sounds interesting, but…

But… It’s Scary!

Showing yourself to the world through the practice of blogging can be really scary! When you start, it can be a path of uncertainty. But to stay on the safe path will keep you from discovering a new JOurneY.

I remember when I first started my blog about 1 1/2 years ago. I was worried that people would judge me or that no one would even read it. There were already so many successful bloggers, and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to measure up.

But I decided to give it a try and I’m sure glad I did. Blogging has brought me more joy than I ever expected. All those benefits I mentioned above ⇑ ⇑ they’re real.

“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”  ― Sylvia Plath

Blogging hasn’t made me rich, but maybe down the road in retirement I’ll have more time to devote to it. For now it’s a fun path that I enjoy. I plan to stay on for a long time, and who knows where it might take me.

<UPDATE> Turns out that path took me to life coaching! In May 2019 I graduated from the Fearless Living Institute as a Certified Fearless Living Coach. As a Life & Joy Coach, I love what I get to do every day! Of course I continue to blog – writing still brings me joy. <END UPDATE>

Let go of your fear or resistance, and jump into blogging for fun. It may be uncomfortable for a while, but you’ll be in control with what you put on that blank canvas.

If you don’t try, you might never know the JOurneY that could have been. Give it a try and avoid future coulda woulda shoulda thoughts.

Fear won’t stop just because you start to write, but it’ll help you get beyond the fear. Work your way through it and you’ll gain power over the fear.

But… Blogging is for Writers!

We all have something to say.

Perfection is not necessary. I think most writers will agree that we are rarely fully satisfied with our work. We can always add just one more photo, quote, or some tid bit of information.

My suggestion is to just start writing words, and most often once you get started you’ll find a stride that is right for you.

“You can always edit a bad page. You can’t edit a blank page.”  ~ Jodi Picoult

Persistence is key. The more you write, the better you’ll get at it. You’ll begin to more quickly “get into the zone” and formulate thoughts into sentences.

With practice, your spelling and grammar will also improve. They say that keeping your mind stimulated and may help you stay sharp in the years ahead. So there’s no time like the present to get started regardless of your age.

As time goes on, you may find that you’ll want to change the focus of your blog, and that’s perfectly fine. I’ve made a few changes in my path, but I just keep on blogging. There are no rules unless I make them! Just remember to keep it fun.

There are lots of people who take blogging very seriously and make a lot of money doing it. However, others prefer to look at their blog as a fun hobby. Either is fine, and you should do whatever brings you joy.

But… A blog is technical and I’m not!

If technology is the barrier between you and a blog, there’s plenty of help out there for you! Check out Digital-Melissa’s website services to get you started with a blog. She will make the process of setting up a blog super easy – and affordable!

Start a blog to share you ideas and stories with the world. Keep up some consistency, and you’ll see the benefit.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Have Fun!

Whether you decide to start writing for fun with a pen and paper, use my free Daily Journal Page, or if you decide to give blogging a try, I hope you decide to start writing. Writing for fun is something you’ll never regret. There’s really very little risk, and everything to gain.

Writing for fun won’t solve all your problems, but it may very well help you out. Although it can sometimes be frustrating when words don’t seem to flow easily, it’s still very rewarding. Enjoying the process is the most important thing to bring the fun to writing.

No matter if you share your writing or keep it private, you’ll look back and be proud. Who knows, one day you may get published.

Feel free to leave a comment with questions you might have about getting started with writing for fun, or share your experience if you are already an active writer. Thanks for being here, it means the world to me!

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