- Coming up with a story that works! Reading something you’ve written and, without arrogance, thinking yes this is good. Taking yourself into a different world (this is especially nice when the real world is giving you a hard time). Inventing characters and as you write about them sensing them coming to life, taking on their own personalities and knowing these characters are unique to you.
- Developing ideas as you write which either improve the story you’re working on or give you scope for more stories to follow on with. The sense of achievement when you have completed a piece of work, which is only better when said work is published. Getting your name in print for your creative piece of work. Discovering you really can produce something publishable!
- Knowing I’m creating something unique. Taking myself out of this world for a while, particularly helpful when going through a bad patch. Writing is therapy. When someone tells you they like what you’ve written. When you’re asked for advice because you’re a writer as it’s always nice to be recognized as such by someone!
- All would-be writers are told to read a lot in genre and out of it so one major benefit of writing is getting to do a lot of reading and being able to claim you need to do it as part of your professional development! As a result of reading more, discovering new authors’ work to enjoy and as a result finding your own stories are inspired by a wide range of genres and styles, which will bring your work to (a) life and (b) keep it going for the long term. You work your reading and writing muscles here.