5 WAYS TO REVIVE YOUR PASSION TO WRITE

Ever feel like the passion you once had to write has vanished into thin air? It has for me, many times, and it’s a terrible place to be. I first thought of making a career out of writing when I was seventeen. That’s over ten years ago now. I still remember the rush of enthusiasm that tingled up my spine as I flopped a notebook on the table and wrote the beginning of my novel. I thought it was the greatest beginning ever, and I was sure that I was well on my way to becoming the next big thing, the new Stephen King, a name everyone would know. But I soon learned (and oh, did I ever learn) that writing wasn’t so easy. It takes practice, hours and days and years of practice. And during that practice, it’s easy to lose the enthusiasm that is necessary to get things done. Slowly but surely, the creative spirit is smothered beneath the sheer work of writing. Dreams of success die.

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