Writing is not only a big part of my major, it’s also a big hobby of mine. I write virtually anything, but short stories have become a big favorite of mine. I like creating characters, and not just a person with the name, I like giving them biographies and ambitions because it’s fun.

Writing is therapeutic. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had a bad day and sat down in front of my computer to write a short story or to work on an article and have felt better. Something about just tapping the keys at lightning speed and getting my thoughts down on paper just makes me feel better.

For me, writing has always helped me find the words that I’m unable to say. When I’m sad, angry or truly at a loss for words, I somehow come up with thousands of them when I’m sitting down in front of a computer.

Of course, I don’t just write when I’m mad or in my feelings, I write when I’m happy, too. I like writing music related things, such as music reviews, album reviews and anything related to the music industry, but because of my job at Lindenwood as the Culture Editor, I have had the opportunity to cover a little bit of everything and it’s expanded my horizons a lot.

There are always stories to be told. Everywhere, all around us, there are people doing cool and unusual things, buildings with a lot of history behind them, secrets to be discovered. If they aren’t being written about, then how will people know about them?

Even though I have been writing forever now for Odyssey, my school and my own personal benefit, I do sometimes experience writer’s block, and it can suck, especially if you don’t know how to overcome it.

Something I found that really helps me when I can’t think of what to write about is just taking a break from it for a little while. Listen to your favorite album, watch your favorite TV show, hang out with a friend; by stepping away from your work for awhile, you are able to clear your head and come back with a fresh head. You’ll be able to see things you couldn’t see before and come up with new ways to improve your story. I swear this works for me almost every time. It’s one of the first things that I recommend to people when they tell me they have writer’s block.

If you don’t know where to begin with writing, try brainstorming. Most of the writing I do is for fun, so a lot of the times, ideas are given to me and it is up to me where I go with the story, but if you don’t have that option: make a list.

Think of story ideas that sound appealing and create characters. When you write, you’re creating your own world and virtually anything is possible.

Writing is venting for when I am physically at a loss for words and I will never stop.