But there’s hope.
I’ve learned that when I lose my passion to write, it’s
never gone for good. It just needs to be coaxed out of hiding, nourished, and
given a new vision. Here are the four ways I revive my passion to write.
Read, Read, Read
When your creative juices dry up, read. It can be
nonfiction, fiction, articles, blog posts, ect., doesn’t really matter what,
just so long as you find it interesting. Reading exposes you to new ideas you can
incorporate into your own work, offers a distraction so that your subconscious can
figure out what you should write next, and assures you that other writers have
walked down the same path you trod. Since I write a lot of fiction, I’ll dive into a
novel or short story. Usually after an hour or so, I’ll get the insatiable itch
to write. Good writing inspires me, and bad writing makes me believe I can do
better (which probably isn’t true, but hey, at least I can pretend it is). Either
way, I’m back at my keyboard.
Watch A Movie (Or A Movie Trailer)
Have a favorite movie? Watch it! Much like reading,
watching a movie revives your subconscious – which is the place all good
writing comes from. It exposes you to ideas and perspectives you can further
explore in your own work. And often, if the movie you're watching is good enough,
it will leave you with a sense of having experienced something amazing. The
first time I watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy, I could hardly get over how epic it was. Afterwards, I wanted
nothing more than to tell a story like that. It pushed me to write.
I pretty much have the movies memorized now, so when I want to remember the
feeling of awe it gave me, I’ll watch the movie trailer, then get to writing.
Take A Break From Writing
After completing a novel, or reworking a short story, or
fussing over a blog post to get it “just right”, take a break. You deserve it.
It’s easy to get burned out, especially after writing for an extended period of
time. A break from writing gives you time to recharge. I’m not saying
you should stop writing for long, maybe just a day or two, a week at most. Allow yourself enough time for you to want to
get back to work, but not enough to grow lazy and stop writing altogether. You know how the old saying goes, “Absence makes the heart
grow fonder.” When you first stop writing, you’ll feel relieved, but before
long, you be back at it again.
Join A Writer’s Community
Writing can be lonely work, but it doesn’t have to be.
Nothing gets me more excited about writing than talking to other writers.
Watching their eyes light up as they explain their latest plot twist, or blog
idea, or recently published article restores my belief that there is value in
writing. If you can’t join a writer’s group, find one online. I’ve met many
writers through online forums that have encouraged and inspired me. Look for other
writers and let them be a part of your life. You’ll be so glad you did.
Write What You Like!
This is huge. Writing is hard enough as it is, so don’t
write about something that doesn’t interest you. I once thought about writing a
story because I felt like it would sell better than my usual drivel. A
professional writer was quick to tell me, “Life is too short to write what you
think people want to read. Just write what YOU want to read.” If you’re forcing
yourself to write in a style or genre just because you think other people will enjoy it, don’t do it. You’ll wear yourself out, become frustrated, and probably
end up with something that isn't very good. Think about what you enjoy, and then scribble away about those things.
So there are the ways I revive my passion to write. Let me
know if they work for you. And if there’s something you do that I didn’t mention
here, please share it! I’d love to give it a try.
All The Best,
Austin
