When I look back through time, I realised that my writing is great therapy for me. My first book was written at time when I was being emotionally tested in a strange country with many cultural differences. To pull myself through this crisis, I wrote 30 short stories in 30 days.
My latest book was also in response to another crisis, lockdown in Ireland. In early 2020 the world was plunged into turmoil by the COVID-19 virus. Tired of keeping a sourdough culture going, I turned to my writing to keep my mind active and healthy. It was another 30 short stories in 30 day challenge. This time each story was based on randomly chosen words that were provided by family, friends and complete strangers across several social media channels.
Research has shown that fiction is a very powerful way to understand others, tap into creativity and exercises the brain.
In fact, a recent article that I read claimed that there are 9 benefits from reading fiction:
1- Empathy: Imagining creates understanding
2- Disengagement: Reading is most effective for stress
3- Sleep: Regular readers sleep better
4- Improved relationships: Books are a ‘reality simulator’
5- Memory: Readers have less mental decline in later life
6- Inclusivity: Stories open your mind
7- Vocabulary: Fiction readers build more language
8- Creativity: Fictions allows for uncertainty (where creativity thrives!)
9- Pleasure: Reading makes you happier
As a writer, I believe that all of the above applies when I write my short stories, not because I am biased, but I have come back from the edge though my writing. I also believe that everything in life has its own natural rhythm and flow.
Lemondemic was very therapeutic for me. Taking on another challenge gave me a sense of purpose and something take my mind of the fact that I had become a prisoner in my home with a maximum of 2Km radius in which to exercise. Is was like an animal pegged to the ground with a 2Km virtual cord around my neck. The writing these 30 stories allowed me to explore the world in the eyes of others from my laptop.
Now, I am celebrating that memorable journey with the official publication of Lemondemic on Amazon.
Lemondemic (Book 3) available, direct, on Amazon Paperback Link: https://amzn.to/3lBwosh
OR
Pre-Order your personalised and signed paperback direct from the author: Short Url: http://tiny.cc/hyu6tz
Source: https://buffer.com/resources/reading-fiction/
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