If you've been writing for a year or more, chances are you've let the writing habit slip every now and then. And at some point, if not at multiple points, you've likely fallen off the writing bandwagon altogether. Perhaps you're at that point right now.
If so, we have you covered. Read on for five tips for getting back into writing.
1. Recognize that you're beginning again.
You have all of your previous experience with writing, yes, but think about this like you would a workout. Perhaps you were a body builder in the past but it's been a while since you've worked out. Lifting a weight now isn't going to bring back that muscle you had before overnight.
You also may not be able to start off with as advanced a regimen as you used to keep. You need to ease yourself back into it, starting small so you can work your way back to where you were and then surpass it.
So take into account where you are and recognize that, depending on how long it's been since you were last in the habit of writing, it may be a while before you meet your own standards again.
2. Start small.
Following the logic of the former point, it may be best to start with a smaller writing project. Most writers view novel writing as their main form of writing, but that is also the biggest and perhaps most difficult kind of writing to do. It requires much of the writer, and if the writer is just returning to such a process it may be difficult for him to keep up with it. For this reason, you may try some other form of writing for now. Perhaps write a flash fiction a week, a poem a day, things of that sort. Find something small that works for you, and then...
3. Stay consistent.
Remember that you're trying to rebuild a habit, a lifestyle of sorts. It takes time and consistency to accomplish and maintain that. And keep in mind that consistency doesn't have to mean a strict schedule that you must keep to - though it certainly can if that is what works best for you. Personally, I find creative schedules to be very stressful and they typically result in burnout for me. My consistency looks less like making sure I do X thing at a specific time every day and rather that I do X thing often. It doesn't matter when I do it, so long as I do it frequently.
Find a way to stay consistent with rebuilding this habit, and be willing to try different routines (or lack thereof) as you look for what works best for you.
4. Remember to read.
Reading is very important for writers. In the words of Virginia Wolf, "Read a thousand books and your words will flow like a river." Reading produces creativity and inspiration for writing, even if it doesn't always seem like it. I've found that when I fall out of writing, I usually haven't been reading much.
Granted it can be hard to find time for both writing and reading, but finding a balance between the two will be very beneficial for your creative process.
5. Start a writing journal.
Having a journal dedicated to rambles, recording ideas, jotting down random poetic lines, and hashing out thoughts is a fine addition to a writer's life, and if you're rebuilding the writing part of your life than this is the perfect time to start one.
I like to describe a writer's journal as an equivalent to an artist's sketchbook. It isn't their finest work, nor is it always completed work, but it is creative, productive, fun, and it will provide its user with a peek at their creative journey when they look back on it years later.
Writing journals are also great for when you're having creative block with a project, or you just can't seem to write anything serious. Go to your journal and write down some word barf. Write about what you're having difficulty with, or maybe try a writing exercise. Even just flipping through your journal and reading your previous thoughts and ideas may help inspire you.
Whenever in doubt, you can always turn to your writing journal.
We hope that these tips have helped you get back into writing. If you have any additional suggestions or questions, please leave a comment!
Have a great day!