If you’ve ever wondered how to start writing again after a long break…
you are not alone. I’ve had many people ask me over the years, “I used to be creative—what happened?”
Usually, life happened. The necessities of parenthood, caregiving, navigating changes, or just general adulting got in the way. Dealing with depression, anxiety, stress, or grief can also suppress our creative side. Often, the pressures of work or school can take a toll. “I don’t have any energy left for writing,” we tell ourselves, because it’s so easy to forget how the act of creating can be energizing rather than depleting— and can crowd out some of the negativity we’re experiencing in our lives.
A writing rejection or someone else’s disparaging words about our work can also become a setback if we let it. We may feel we need a break, or we may even resolve to give up on writing—only to realize that writing hasn’t given up on us.
Personally, I didn’t write nearly as much as I wanted to in 2021, and for reasons I don’t want to get into here, I shelved a completed novel draft for the time being. It was the right decision, but it broke my heart a little bit to do it, and it led to a dry spell. But so far in 2022—and yes, the year has just begun—I’ve been writing two hours a day.
The good news is, creativity never really goes away. It just needs a little nudging! So here are some of my ideas for how to let your creativity flow.
1. Find your writing place.
It might be a public place: a café, a park, or a library. In any case, it helps if you can choose a place where you aren’t in the habit of doing housework, watching TV, or scrolling on social media. It’s a bonus if it’s a place where you’re less likely to be interrupted by others.
Regardless of where you choose, the key here is consistency. If you return to your writing place again and again, your brain will get into the happy habit of being creative there. It’ll feel like home to your creative self.
2. Bribe your inner writer or artist with gifts.
Your inner creative self is like a child, and children like presents! Get yourself a new notebook or journal, a new pack of your favorite pens, a coffee mug with a slogan about writing, some special writing snacks, a plant or bouquet for your desk or bedside table, a fragrant candle to burn while you’re writing…whatever makes you happy. It’s a way to prove to yourself that your writing matters, which will help encourage you to do it. So treat yourself. Check out my ideas for gifts for writers for inspiration!
3. Do writing prompt sprints.
Here’s how you do this! Find a writing prompt. Set an alarm for 15 minutes. Write as fast as you can. It doesn’t have to be good. It literally doesn’t even have to make sense. If you’re putting words down, you’re doing it right.
Repeat daily for one week.
I really prefer writing in a journal or notebook for this kind of thing, and I’ve blogged before about the benefits of writing by hand. But do whatever feels comfortable for you! My book 5,000 Writing Prompts is perfect for this, though people also use it for when they get stuck in the middle of stories. In any case, I can almost guarantee that doing this daily for a week will thaw any icy writer’s block and get those ideas flowing—and even gushing!—again.
4. Start your day with an affirmation, such as, “I am a talented and prolific writer.”
Maybe even say it while looking at yourself in the mirror! Remember, though, affirmations only work with repetition. If you do them once or twice, they do more harm than good, because the cynical part of your brain kicks in. “A writer?” it sneers. “Yeah, right. You haven’t written in two years…” With repetition, you’ll drown out that thinking, and your brain will rewire itself to believe in this new reality.
5. Talk a walk while listening to music before writing…
For some people, this only works if it’s music without lyrics. Other people, like me, don’t mind the lyrics! Of course, you could also…
6. Make a playlist to listen to while you write.
This could be a playlist for a particular project; a playlist for a genre, like horror or fantasy; or just a general playlist for writing. Regardless of what you do here, your brain will get in the habit of writing when it hears the music.
I know you have other ideas for getting back into writing. So let us know about them in the comments! If you can relate to the struggle, we’d love to hear from you, too. We can do this! Thanks so much for reading, and happy writing!
Great content. Thanks
Thanks! And thanks for reading!
I love the self-gifts to psych yourself up and also the favourite place. Even though Omicron is keeping me from writing in cafes, I have my own little nook and desk to retreat to.
Hi Naomi! Yeah, I haven’t been at my favorite café for a little while due to Omicron, either! It sounds like you have a cozy writing corner 🙂
It may sound weird, but I do some of my best thinking in the shower! After a hot and refreshing shower post-morning barre workout, I’m so much better prepared to face the day with lots of energy and new ideas! Bonus points if you incorporate some of the ideas you mentioned above such as playlists, candles and positive affirmations. 🙂 Happy Writing this week!
Same! Shower, in the bathtub, or while driving, especially driving over the bridge! It’s the water, I think. Maybe it really is my element!
Hi, Jennifer! Oh, not weird at all! I get a lot of ideas while doing the elliptical machine, myself—I keep my journal in reach now! Hope you have a great writing week yourself!
Connecting with a writing community either in person or virtual helps me too! #writingcommunity posts on Twitter and Instagram can help, or maybe find a local writing group and attend a meeting. Most are virtual right now but can still be inspiring. Online cons can help spark that desire as well. DVCon is about to start and it’s free to register. I also bought a fun tool called StoryEngine and it’s a fun way to start when you’re stuck! Good luck, everyone!
Hey friend! Ohhh, I can’t believe I didn’t talk about that! So I’m glad you did. Having a community can make such a big difference! Thanks for suggesting that, and the tips about DVCon and StoryEngine too.
Be accountable to a writing buddy. It helps me to know I will check in regularly.
Keep a perspective.
WHY DO I WRITE?
When I was in college, I learned that one academic study found that those who wrote about a trauma they had actually experienced with an eye toward resolution were healthier than those who did not. They visited the infirmary less often, missed fewer classes and had a brighter outlook on life.
The amazing thing to me was that those who did the same thing with an imagined trauma experienced the same health benefits.
My own take-away was – That’s what writers of fiction do!
So, I am healthier when I write! So, I encourage others to write! Let’s make the world a healthier place by writing fiction!
Hi Jessie! This comment is pure gold. An accountability partner can make such a big difference. And I LOVE the idea of staying connected to your purpose—the reason you write in the first place!
I’ve only recently gotten back into writing after just rereading some of my really old stories. Once I reread some stories, I remembered how actually good I am at writing and how amazing it feels to get it all down on paper (or on the Google doc, really). By doing that, I’ve been able to revisit ideas that I’ve had for literal years that I had thought were long since dead but by rereading it, something sparked. I still have a long way to go to get to even finishing a full draft of a novel, but at least it’s something I feel like I can work toward accomplishing again.
Leah, that must’ve been such a good feeling—to reconnect with your work and see how good it was! Who knows? Maybe a full novel draft isn’t as far off as you think! Happy writing! (And thanks for commenting!)
Interesting article Bryn. Just over 18 months ago, I had knee replacements operation and I thought, “wow! I will have lots of time while I recover to write.” Wrong! Since then, my imagination seems to have dried up.
I went through your recent post of 25 writing prompts and some really clicked with me. I copied those down and edited a bit but they really sit well with me.
Odd, I subscribed to your blog a year of so ago. Then I found I was contributing to so many different sites, I deleted a lot. Oops, then I found I did miss yours, so rejoined.
Hi Peter! It’s great to have you back! (And I understand about the overload.) Sometimes when we’re going through something tough, like recovering from surgery (or, you know, a pandemic) it can take a toll on our creativity! I’m so glad the writing prompts clicked for you!
Wonderful ideas. Let’s see if I can implement them.
denise
Aww thanks Denise! Hope you have a great writing week 🙂
Thank you!
Thank you for the suggestions and for shedding light on the fact that life interrupts the lives of other writers, too!
Hi Katrina! Yeah, writers don’t talk about those dry spells…but most writers have them! Thanks for reading, and for posting!
Wow! I needed this today. Thank you.
Oh, I’m so glad it came at the right time. 🙂 Thanks for commenting!
Hey Bryn, I must have needed to read this today coz it just jumped out of my inbox at me! I have been in a dry spell for almost two years now. Some negative comments from someone I trusted kind of knocked the wind out of my sails and made me question my abilities completely. I guess I wasn’t as thick skinned as I’d thought. Prior to that, I used to write upwards of 4 hours a day, and that was with a full time job – it was a priority for me, and it wasn’t an effort. The words literally would just flow onto the page. Now, it’s a little like pulling teeth. I’d like to reconnect with my creative side this year. Like others mentioned, I too have been pulling up some old work that I never completed and finding that I feel really good about what I’d written. I’m going to try your idea of using writing prompts to get the creative juices flowing, along with reading more of my unfinished work. Thanks for the inspiration!
Hi Ann! Oh, I’m so glad this came at the right time. I think many people are secretly jealous of those who write, and it makes them say negative things. It’s especially rough when it’s from someone you trust, even if you’re thick-skinned in general. The good news is, you know you have it in you to write a lot and consistently, and that’s great (and honestly inspiring to read about!) I know you can get back into it and I bet you’ll love it! Thanks for posting!
I found that if I listen to music with words, I do get distracted, especially if it’s a song I know; I tend to stop writing and start singing. Not a pleasant sound, if you ask me. So when I’m working on a manuscript or my sermon notes, I have either a Pandora smooth jazz station going, or a 10-hour loop of the “Twin Peaks” opening theme music I stumbled across on YouTube a little over a year ago. It probably sounds strange, but I have absolutely no problem with listening to that theme for hours on end. It actually helps me get into my zone because it’s all the same. And it’s just a very soothing, relaxing piece of music, in my opinion.
Hi David! “Not a pleasant sound, if you ask me” made me laugh! I totally get this, actually. I’ve had times while I listened to the same song again and again while writing. It keeps me in the zone, just as you say! I didn’t know anyone else did this. 🙂 Thanks for commenting! Hope you have a great weekend!
I’m reading a lot of blogs. Seems to be helping my poetry.
Nice! I love reading blogs 🙂
You can tell what you think of mine. If you’re bored with nothing better to do ?
Great post.
Since becoming self-employed, my creativity and, therefore, writing, is much less nowadays. Sometimes I can’t string a sentence together.
This is an excellent list. Thanks!