How To Get Back into Writing

[WordCount]

It's been a while, folks.

According to my content page, this is my first post since Christmas of 2012. What a long time it has been.

I've had ideas bouncing around for years, and just don't know how exactly to make it happen. When I last posted here, I was really young, taking basically all of my nights to write, write, write. I wasn't really that good at it, but I thought I had potential. Now that I'm older, I'd like to give it a shot again, but... it's hard to make time for it and get the creative juices flowing when I'm worn out for #reallife. Any suggestions from the seasoned vets out there who have done this thing of ours while working a full-time job?

Thanks again, as a community, for being so kind to me when I was so young. I have not forgotten it.

 

[Helix]

I find the best thing is to read. That reignites my love of stories.

 

[stephenf]

Welcome back
There is probably more stuff out there , roughly labelled how to write , than a single lifetime can work through . My advice is to find the time to write every day. Ideally, in the same place with everything you need to feel comfortable for half an hour or more.
Write anything Don't worry too much about what you write or how good or bad it is .
I liked to print everything , but in an effort to be green , I now just keep the files .
Read old writings for review, edit and rewrite on a regular basis
The idea is to practise writing , and to build on your skills from past efforts .
If you have any free time , spend it reading .

 

[Iustefan]

I think you’ve already received the advice you need: read, and make time for writing everyday. I’ll only add that you shouldn’t worry about what you write. Write down anything that comes to mind. Thoughts, opinions, poems, plans, lists... It doesn’t need to be part of your manuscript to count as writing.

Just build a habit for writing. That’s the most important thing. Stories will flow once you feel free to write.

Coming from someone else who only recently returned to writing after a few year hiatus.

 

[Undercover]

I always take a break between novels for about a year or so. But when I'm ready to get back into writing, it can be difficult. I completely understand. You can get a lot of inspiration from writing groups such as this one. There's a great writing community on Twitter. Writing exercises here can help generate some writing. Also watching series on TV. Watch how they move the plot along and maybe do some fanfiction from it. Just some more ideas. Remember, you can always start out small like a haiku.

Submitting your best poems and short stories can also generate writing, especially if you get positive feedback or even better, accepted. I hope you continue to try. Sounds like the writing wants to come out of you. Allow yourself to do it.

I agree, same time everyday. Doesn't have to be long. Just be regular about it. Good luck.

 

[Chris P]

Welcome back!

My first bit of advice is not to force myself. If I make myself write because I "should be writing," that's a sure fire way for me to resent it and everything about it.

Another thing that I've found helpful are story prompts. There are a few prompts ongoing here at AW, but I'm sure there are many others out there you could participate in. Some of my favorite stories came from prompts.

Otherwise, play around with it. Do it when the mood strikes you, and do it the way you want to. If it develops into a routine, great, and if not, that's fine too. It's all about what works for you.

 

[Saltfish and Bake]

A lot of great advice in this thread. I very much agree with the suggestion to read as much as you can.

I used to be an avid reader up until early teenage years but totally fell off the reading wagon up until a year or two ago - now I’m reading in just about any free time I have and reading good/exciting/compelling writing kinda fires me up to want to write something of my own. The artistry of other writers motivates me.

I, like you, haven’t written in a while. I’ll write an essay I’m super into then not write anything for months. I need to take the other bit of advice in this thread, which is taking the time everyday to just write something. If half hour seems intimidating maybe 15 minutes might seem less so.

Wishing you all the best in getting the habit going again, and I hope we can both get back on that horse

 

[The Never-Ending Sea]

Personally, I find secluding myself in a new environment with a lot of coffee and no disturbances can do wonders. Also shutting off the phone and putting the laptop into airplane mode is pretty much a necessity. All the advice here is stellar!

 

[Madzianta]

Personally, I find secluding myself in a new environment with a lot of coffee and no disturbances can do wonders. Also shutting off the phone and putting the laptop into airplane mode is pretty much a necessity. All the advice here is stellar!

Shutting off the phone! I like to use this app "Stay off" - it tells me how much time I spend on social media.
It's good to leave your phone in a different room, too.

 

[s.cummings]

I work a full-time job in a sales/customer service role, and I work for several clients as a freelance writer. Between my blog and clients, I write approximately 12-15k words per week. In addition to that, I've begun pumping out a few thousand words in my novels as well. First, as mentioned above, read, read, and read some more. It helps get the creative juice flowing. Go for long walks

In addition to my work, I also have to carve out time for a wife and 2 young children. The way I did it is by getting up a little earlier (and I've taken a break from video games )

Hopefully, that helps. Also, WELCOME BACK!

 

[Tristann]

I'm just starting to get back into writing after a sizable hiatus too. I'd agree with all the great advice on here.
For me personally, I'm terrible for always daydreaming and what's helped me is always keeping my notebook in reach- reminds me to write down those daydreams rather than wasting them. You never know when you might find 'diamonds in the dustheap' (I'm pretty sure that's a Virginia Woolf quote).

 

[Chuckster]

I agree with everyone above and I have another idea that could work. I'm into science fiction. For inspiration, I look at the stars at night. That fills me with inspiration. Also, I'm on Pinterest and look at a lot of science fiction art. If you're into a different genre, maybe you could look at pictures of castles, Regency dresses, whatever you are interested in.

 

[Kyrin Sturdivant]

It's been a while, folks.

According to my content page, this is my first post since Christmas of 2012. What a long time it has been.

I've had ideas bouncing around for years, and just don't know how exactly to make it happen. When I last posted here, I was really young, taking basically all of my nights to write, write, write. I wasn't really that good at it, but I thought I had potential. Now that I'm older, I'd like to give it a shot again, but... it's hard to make time for it and get the creative juices flowing when I'm worn out for #reallife. Any suggestions from the seasoned vets out there who have done this thing of ours while working a full-time job?

Thanks again, as a community, for being so kind to me when I was so young. I have not forgotten it.

Maybe get a blank calendar and write a word down for each day. Then when you come back to it try to incorporate the word of the day into new writing.

 

[lordorion7]

It's been a while, folks.

According to my content page, this is my first post since Christmas of 2012. What a long time it has been.

I've had ideas bouncing around for years, and just don't know how exactly to make it happen. When I last posted here, I was really young, taking basically all of my nights to write, write, write. I wasn't really that good at it, but I thought I had potential. Now that I'm older, I'd like to give it a shot again, but... it's hard to make time for it and get the creative juices flowing when I'm worn out for #reallife. Any suggestions from the seasoned vets out there who have done this thing of ours while working a full-time job?

Thanks again, as a community, for being so kind to me when I was so young. I have not forgotten it.

For me I watch my favorite shows or listen to my favorite audiobook.

 

[David Tice]

Writer’s block can prevent you from writing a great story if you let it. I battled with it all the time until I finally accepted it as a natural part of the writing process, sort of how Relapse is a part of the Recovery Process.

There were times when I would write 10-15 pages a day on a story for a week straight and then all of a sudden I would just lose interest. When that happens it could be months before I return to a certain novel, though I usually just start something new.

I learned that the best antidote for Writers Block is just to fight through it. Every time I woke up and forced myself to write even though i didn’t want to I crafted my best scenes.

 

[LucindaLynx]

Sometimes I just go and read some discussion forums. Sometimes some conversation will make my creative juices flow, and I may find a "starting point" of my story, but sometimes it is a false start and the story gets stuck. That's when I know the starting point is not right, and usually the readers agree with me.
In such a case I must keep looking until I find the actual starting point. "Pulling" is the feeling I need. That's how I know the start "works".
Then there are times words just don't come and the whole story has stuck in the mud or something like that. That's when I may do some character research or, if the stuck is very bad, I leave the story alone for a period of time and knit or do something else. Sooner or later my characters start speaking to me again, and that's how I know it's time to go back.

 

[allyfaye]

It's been a while, folks.

According to my content page, this is my first post since Christmas of 2012. What a long time it has been.

I've had ideas bouncing around for years, and just don't know how exactly to make it happen. When I last posted here, I was really young, taking basically all of my nights to write, write, write. I wasn't really that good at it, but I thought I had potential. Now that I'm older, I'd like to give it a shot again, but... it's hard to make time for it and get the creative juices flowing when I'm worn out for #reallife. Any suggestions from the seasoned vets out there who have done this thing of ours while working a full-time job?

Thanks again, as a community, for being so kind to me when I was so young. I have not forgotten it.

This is advice specific to what I do, but perhaps it might be good for you as well: listening to music. I always write while listening to music (sometimes the type of music itself can inspire a mood to write). Also, I only write when the mood strikes. Perhaps this is not good for your situation (or long term) but I've always felt that forcing it means your output will be less than what it would be if you were struck by inspiration. Take these bits of advice as you will. Good luck.