For most of us, writing makes us happy (as much as it can make us frustrated and stressed!) and sharing our ideas or our feelings with others is the most inspiring thing we can think of.

Do you think we need a certain level of mental well being in order to write well? Or is the tortured author always the most talented?

These books discuss the themes of writing and happiness. Or you might want to check out this blog to see new ways of writing about happiness. Writing can also be used as a tool to increase your emotional wellbeing and your health and productivity.

Opportunities and Events

A positive outlook can also increase your confidence in submitting work and resilience in facing knock-backs. If you feel that important piece is ready for submission then quite fittingly, the Mental Health Foundation’s creative writing competition is now open, as are the Future Leaders awards.

And while you’re getting those entries ready you might want to take a listen to author David Foster Wallace’s speech about, basically, how to live a good life.

Today’s quote proves school won’t teach you everything…

“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.” – John Lennon

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