The Joy and Benefits of Writing

Most of my writing is in the form of academic papers or reports for consulting projects. I am always amazed at how hard writing actually is. It seems so easy on the face of it…just sit down and start tapping on the keyboard. It takes a remarkable amount of energy and effort, but it can bring much joy and benefits.

One huge benefit is that it makes you think. I have found that there is nothing that makes you think harder about a subject than writing about it. When I am writing about my research, the process quickly highlights any potential shortcomings in the research process or outcomes.

It can also bring great joy to the writer. Of course, if one enjoys writing, the process it self can be fun, but writing something that you think is quite good, maybe even to your surprise, can be such a high. It is a severe rush of pleasure – a “writer’s rush,” if you will.

I had this experience yesterday afternoon as I was completing a report. It was the end of the day, and I had no sleep the night before, which does not make for good writing circumstances for me. Moreover, I had come to the point of writing the conclusion section of the report. This has always been the least favorite section of any paper for me to write. This is probably due to the fact that it typically leads to long outs of writer’s block and ultimately, very uninspiring writing. As I finally dove into writing the conclusion yesterday, inspiration came out of nowhere, and when I got done writing it, I read over it and thought, “Wow, that is pretty good.”

What a rush and a great way to end the work day!

Steve