Write for Your Health: A New HPB Category and its Relation to the Health Benefit of Writing

Today, I’m thrilled to introduce a unique category on HPB: “© My Musings in a Hundred Words.” This innovative concept, inspired by the worlds of microfiction and micrononfiction, has unexpectedly sparked my interest. I first stumbled upon this literary form on Literary Hub, a website dedicated to various writing genres. It’s a writing medium that challenges individuals to express their thoughts and ideas concisely yet impactfully. And I can’t wait to share this new adventure with you.

My Musings About Writing and Brevity

Writing is more than just a delightful pastime for me. It’s a fulfilling journey that I share through my posts on HPB. It’s a way for me to express my thoughts about health-related (and occasionally some non-health-related) topics and interests, hoping to inspire others to improve their mental and physical well-being. The anticipation of sitting at my desk, ready to create content through my computer keyboard, is a thrill that sets into motion a writing experience that concludes with the satisfying click of the “publish” button with my computer mouse.

However, writing is not just a personal hobby. I consider it a powerful tool for enhancing health and wellness. I’ve heard this sentiment echoed by many others who find solace and purpose in writing. Numerous studies have also highlighted the health benefits of writing. For instance, a Monitor on Psychology article revealed that individuals with chronic health conditions experienced an improved immune system when they used expressive writing to manage and cope with their health challenges. And a JMIR Mental Health article noted findings suggesting several health-promoting outcomes from journaling, including “reduced mental distress, anxiety, and perceived stress” and “greater perceived personal resilience and social integration.”

While many of my writing projects include pieces numbering in the hundreds or well above one thousand in word count, presenting a topic of interest in only a few words offers an equally gratifying writing encounter. It mentally challenges me to present a thought-provoking idea or tale through a concise narrative. Interestingly, my first “Musings in a Hundred Words” concerns the craft of writing. I invite you to read the debut piece entitled “Tapping with Love.” The posts to follow will represent various interests and experiences, ranging from simple observations to humorous anecdotes to disclosures of quirky life moments. I hope you find this new category an enjoyable reading escape in brevity.

Give this Genre a Try for Yourself

Have you ever considered writing a health-promoting action? Does awareness of microfiction and micrononfiction inspire you to express your thoughts, feelings, or interests through writing? Perhaps some of you have always desired to embark on a literary journey and didn’t know where to begin. For those who develop a sense of dread or uncertainty when thinking about writing, there is good reason to breathe a sigh of relief.

There are many online resources for anyone interested in writing. And the literary mediums of microfiction and micrononfiction are fantastic ways to engage in this endeavor without viewing it as a significant project akin to writing a multi-page essay or term paper. If you need a framework to get you started, such as publishing a one-hundred-word piece, I recommend 100 Word Story. It’s a writing website open to anyone interested in these writing genres.

One feature of the website that I find particularly enjoyable is the “photo prompt,” which involves writing about a different photo posted monthly. This feature has the added benefit of allowing you to read the postings of others who publish a response to the same photo. So, not only are you encouraged to rely on your subjective reaction to an image to engage your writing chops to craft a small collection of words. You also have an enjoyable reading opportunity to view one image from many perspectives. This feature makes this specific arena of 100 Word Story welcoming, inviting individuals to embrace variety and nuance and promoting community among writers, including individuals new to the genre.

I hope you feel inspired to write (and read) in brevity. There is nothing to lose from giving the rewarding activity that nonfiction writer William Zinsser calls “thinking on paper” a try. I can say from personal experience that it’s an avocation that could evolve into a new sphere of personal growth and fulfillment. Wouldn’t that make for a remarkable, health-promoting outcome?

For anyone interested in developing skills to take a more adventurous journey in writing, such as writing a feature article or blog post, I recommend William Zinsser’s book, On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction.