In Rewrite Your Life: Discover Your Truth Through the Healing Power of Fiction, Jessica Lourey cites academic research that found that people who write fiction can experience more physical health benefits than people who write autobiography. In my college classes, I’ve found that asking students to write about topics that seem safe – such as early experiences with writing – can trigger traumatic memories. Without realizing it, we can be asking students to play with fire. Should there be an option that allows students to have the control and safety that comes with fiction, where writers can control how the story goes?
Lourey, Jessica. Rewrite Your Life: Discover Your Truth Through the Healing Power of Fiction. Conari Press, 2017, p. 11.