Fiction Writing Transforms Us

We’ve all been moved by a powerful story—one that lingers long after the final page or frame. But what if telling stories, not just absorbing them, could actually change us? At Yes, And...eXercise!, our Cinema Therapy classes explore the healing power of narrative, and we’ve found that writing fiction isn’t just cathartic—it’s transformative.

As Dr. Erin Clabough writes in Psychology Today, storytelling activates core regions of the brain that control empathy, language, and self-reflection. “The act of listening to a story can light up more areas of the brain than watching television or listening to a lecture,” she explains. That means when we engage with fiction—especially when we create it—we’re doing powerful neurological work that enhances our emotional and cognitive capacity.

This is not new. Our brains are hardwired to engage with stories as an organizational tool. Stories have helped us survive and evolve into the uniquely social creatures we are. We crave to tell and be told stories. We are affirmed and validated when we hear the truth in others’ journeys and when others accept and acknowledge ours. 

Through fiction writing, people gain a new lens on their lived experience. They can rewrite fear into courage, isolation into connection, powerlessness into agency. In our Cinema Therapy program, we take this a step further by blending guided writing with curated film scenes. Participants reflect on a character’s journey, then reimagine or respond to it through a fictional lens of their own. This intentional practice encourages what psychologists call aesthetic distance—the ability to examine emotional content at just enough remove to safely reflect, without shutting down. 

Aesthetic distance is a superpower. It allows participants to write bravely about a diagnosis or traumatic experience without collapsing into fear, to explore grief through metaphor, or to imagine a future self who overcomes the impossible. When done in community, this storytelling work fuels confidence and hope. We’ve seen people rediscover their voice, take risks on the page, and realize that the author of their story—the hero, in fact—is them. The framework of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey allows us to know we have a shared understanding of even the most difficult life experiences; our stories remind us we all belong, even as we feel isolated and certain that no one could understand our pain, grief, or anxiety.

In a recent session, one participant said, “I came in afraid to write a single sentence. Now I’m writing stories where I’m the protagonist.” Another shared that watching a film clip where a character finds strength in adversity helped her reframe her own challenges with Parkinson’s. She wasn’t erasing the pain—she was transforming it into purpose.

This is the heart of our mission at Yes, And...eXercise. Our programs are rooted in the belief that creativity is a functional wellness tool. Fiction writing, especially when combined with film and group reflection, boosts three essential quality-of-life measures: confidence, creativity, and agency. People begin to believe in their capacity to shape meaning from chaos. They place their hands on the keyboard. They write the next scene.

In a world where many feel defined by diagnosis or circumstance, shared storytelling offers an escape hatch—and a mirror. It doesn’t just entertain. It reflects and empowers.

Learn more about our Cinema Therapy program and how storytelling can be a form of healing at www.yesandexercise.org/cinematherapy. All are welcome.