Writing fiction gives you a voice and allows you to say things you might not be able to say out loud.
When writing from another person’s perspective, especially someone very different, you start to understand emotions, struggles, and motivations on a deeper level. That kind of empathy crafted through fiction can help with forgiveness and letting go. Many great writers like Maya Angelou have described storytelling as a way of “reclaiming” their pain.
But writing isn’t only about heavy emotions. Inventing worlds, characters, or happy endings can reignite creativity and joy, which are essential parts of wellbeing. In November and December WriteWell members can enjoy back to back fiction courses exploring character and setting in the Fiction 1 and Fiction 2 short 4-week series.
Life can feel chaotic, but in fiction, you decide what happens. In this writing exercise, a lonely student starts writing letters to her future self and is surprised when she starts getting replies.
Letters to my future self
You can approach this writing activity anyway you want. It can be in a diary entry or a freewriting exercise. Will you use a magical pen or will the replies arrive in the letterbox?
Creating a story like this, where a character overcomes obstacles or finds peace can restore a sense of agency and hope, a reminder that healing and change are possible.
Fiction makes meaning
It feels good writing from another person’s perspective, exploring emotions through someone else. You still own the emotions yes but they’re further away. Fiction demands empathy. You step into different minds and perspectives, and that can feel both grounding and expanding. You discover new sides of yourself through your characters.
Ultimately, fiction turns chaos into pattern. You take the raw, messy stuff of life and shape it into something that means something. And that making sense of the world through story feels deeply human.
It’s never been a better time to snuggle up for the winter and explore fiction writing. You can enjoy a 2-week free trial when you sign up to the WriteWell Community today.
