Creative Writing and Wellbeing

Creative Writing and Wellbeing: Research, Theory, and Practice Beyond Words is a pioneering collection that explores the transformative potential of creative writing across physical, psychological, and social dimensions of wellbeing. Moving beyond the premise that creative writing is beneficial, the book asks how, where, and for whom it works—and to what ends.

Featuring international contributors from diverse disciplines including medicine, education, social studies, and the arts, the chapters offer profound insights, innovative methodologies, and inclusive approaches. From conceptualising the self as a genre or horror fiction as a mode of recovery to collaborative creative writing with marginalised communities, this is a theoretical and practical resource for educators, practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and individuals interested in creative wellbeing. Grounded in real-world impact and aligned with global health and arts initiatives, the book invites readers to rethink the boundaries of disciplines and imagine new futures for creative writing as a tool for care, research, and social change.