Vividly Creative

You know the feeling, writing everyday, finishing your first draft and staying on top of everything.

Even if it’s just staying on track for 3 days, it feels pretty amazing.

Then you stop writing for half a year or even more. Yikes.

The guilt, the shame, that little voice in your head repeating to you «You’re not a writer, You don’t even write. How can you pick up that project after a Millenia of ignoring it?»

But also just missing writing for fun, because yes writing is fun. That’s why you chose to be a writer right? You enjoyed writing and odds are you probably still do.

So, how does one go back to the basics?

First thing first: Free yourself from judgement

So you having written in ages and you don’t even remember how to use commas, anymore, who cares?

When we strive for perfection, we ignore the fact that it does not exist, specially in art. The beauty of creating is that it’s never straight forward and it never takes us to where we thought we would get to, but to somewhere much better.

So let go of the destination, let go of expectations, let yourself create and let the outcome surprise you. It can be much better than you imagined.

2. Allow yourself to procrastinate by consuming writing content or reading

Sometimes we’re just not ready. Or maybe we just don’t have the energy to pick up writing again at the moment and that’s okay.

Low key researching might help with motivation to write or to continue your projects in the future. In addition, learning new techniques will always come in handy when you do actually start writing again.

So sit back and binge on YouTube videos, you’re doing important research for your next best seller. (yes, really!)

3. Join a writing community

No, you don’t need to get out of the house, calm down.

Make a Tumblr, an Instagram or a Twitter and blog about writing. Say that you’re a writer and believe it! Talk about how you haven’t written at all or how you only managed to write 50 words last months and you had to scrap all of it.

Writing is hard and when you’re starting your career, chances are that you don’t know much or any writers at all. So go look for them! Ask them about their projects and what they’re working on. Share dreams and struggles, be accountability buddies, etc.

There are tons of writing communities online and offline that are always on the look out for new members and new perspectives. So go for it!

4. Start small

Forget your book for a while and ask yourself: what do you want to write right now?

Do you need to vent? Project all your problems into a new character or just journal or do some poetry.

Do you want to start a new story? Go for it!

Not sure where to start? Try prompts and random generators.

When I feel blocked or stuck I create a story base on a name, a place or a random action (a verb) and just see where it goes.

Even if I’m not intentionally working on my existing projects, a random word might spark an idea to fix a plot hole that I had for a while or add a new character or even an idea for how to develop the story further.

Remember, no judgement of your work until it’s done and fully edited!

5. Write. Period.

Just sit down & write. Let the words flow even when they don’t.

We all encounter set backs and we all need breaks, but if you want to write and keep putting it off because of fear, you’re not doing yourself any favors.

You’re not doing anybody any favors either. You don’t know who you can impact with your writing.

Your point of view matters.

The worlds that you create are important.

The stories that you dream to bring to life deserve to be written.

So open that word document and let it all out. Plot holes are a second draft problem!

Did I miss something? Let me know how you get back to writing after a rut!