Happy September, readers!
These past few months, I've been on a half-hiatus that I called a Summer Scale Back, during which I shifted to a bi-weekly upload schedule to focus on my fiction and to accommodate for a change in my schedule due to extended seasonal hours at my day job.
It was nice to have my writing time be dedicated (mostly) to A Tided Love for the first time since I started it in November for NaNoWriMo 2023, but returning to it after a longer-than-expected break was more of a challenge than I anticipated.
Similarly, this time of year, you might be coming back to writing after going on an end-of-summer holiday or getting into a steadier writing routine now that the kids have gone back to school.
Between my experiences on the fiction side of things and returning to the blog in full now that my Summer Scale-Back is over, I thought it would be appropriate to resume our regularly scheduled posting with some tips for coming back to writing after an extensive break.
Set Reasonable Goals
You may feel like you need to be a busy bee and get a ton of stuff done to make up for lost time and catch up after your writing life slowed down. The problem is that this makes it easy to become overwhelmed and burned out all over again.
Take a breath, unclench your jaw, and set small but reasonable goals while you work towards the big ones.
Additionally, remember that it's okay to change your goals. If you intended to write 12,000 words by the end of the month but had to put your WIP to the side for a week due to extenuating circumstances, it's okay if you aim for 8,000 words instead.
Life happens. Adjust accordingly and as needed.
Don't Rush Yourself
On a similar note, don't rush yourself.
Think of coming back to writing after a break like hitting the gym for the first time in forever—after an injury, for example. Chances are you aren't running for miles at top speed on the treadmill straight away (at least, not without warming up first). You have to work back up to that.
The same can be said for coming back to writing. You don't have to dive head-first into hours-long sessions straight away, even if that was the norm before your break. Consider experimenting with writing sprints, writing for a few chunks of time with little breaks in between.
It's okay if it takes a bit longer to get going again. Take it slow and build up that momentum.
Look For The Joy
This has been on my mind quite a bit lately.
One reason you may need space away from your WIP can go for other relationships, too. Sometimes, you've fallen out of love with it or just need a break to reassess and figure out what direction you want to take things in.
Cue the obligatory Friends reference!
Jokes aside, coming back to your WIP can be daunting, especially if the reason for the break pertains to your feelings towards it. It often consists of untangling loose plot threads as you reorient yourself in your setting and reacquaint yourself with your characters, and if you weren't happy with it when you left off, it can feel like a slogging, odious task.
That's why it's important to look for the joy. Specifically, what brings you joy about this particular idea? What drew you to this story? What about it excites you? Remember the things you love most about this story and embrace them because that will make writing fun again.
And when something is fun, it's that much easier to take on.
Embrace Imperfections
Another thing that slows writers down is the feeling that you need to get the first draft right. It's easy to get wrapped up in perfecting every last detail.
Remember that things can change along the way. Maybe you have to add a scene in order to provide more context for readers or you end up scrapping a character altogether because their role in the story is limited or can be fulfilled more successfully by someone else.
The only job of a first draft is to exist. It's all about telling yourself the story. It's called a rough draft (or even a shitty first draft) for a reason. This is the time to carve out a general shape that you can sand down and chisel the fine details in the editing stage.
Don't worry about wrapping everything up in a tidy little bow. That'll come later. For now, focus on getting those fingers on the keys and putting words on paper.
Seek Out Writer Friends
Writing can feel so isolating, but that doesn't mean you don't have to go it alone.
When you're stuck on something, it helps to have friends to bounce ideas off of and troubleshoot with—especially when they're fellow writers!
Getting outside feedback on what you have so far can help you figure out where you need to go.
Finding a writing group and internet friends was one of the best things I did. As I've mentioned often in the past, I'm an internet introvert who struggles to engage on social media and put myself out there. But with my eyes being the only ones on my writing, it was hard to identify my weak spots and how to potentially fix them.
For the past few months, I've been meeting with some friends I met on Instagram. We've got a shared Google Drive where we can leave pages for critiques and talk through them on our calls, and it was so incredibly helpful not just in terms of polishing up my first draft but getting my motivation back. Our conversations encouraged me to work on longer chunks of my story quicker so I could drop them in the Drive, and the group's insight reshaped that project's shortcomings into something I was really excited about for the first time since starting it for NaNoWriMo.
Don't underestimate the value of the Writing Community. Whether in-person or online, find your own little corner where you can exchange your knowledge and resources with others who share your passion for the craft and will in turn support you in your journey.
You know what they say: the rising tide raises all ships.
Celebrate Your Achievements (No Matter How Small)
Lastly, remember to give yourself credit, even for the small stuff.
When we talk about celebrating writing wins, it's often in reference to finishing a draft or surviving the querying trenches, and we kind of forget about the little things. The day-to-day stepping stones between the major milestones.
Trying to get back into the swing of things after a hiatus and get your mojo back isn't easy, especially if you're feeling discouraged by what seems like a lack of progress.
Try not to get caught up in what you didn't get done. Instead, focus on what you DID accomplish, whether it's hitting a certain word count, writing the perfect line of dialogue, or finally getting your butt in that chair!
Slow progress is still progress. Small steps towards your goals are still steps in the right direction.
Reconnecting with your story after a long break may have you feeling like a stranger in a strange land, but what if you were able to make it feel more like a homecoming? The key is taking everything day by day. Trust yourself and the process and keep these tips in mind as you forge ahead with your writing journey.
Dust off that notebook, sharpen your pencils, and get to work. Everything else will fall back into place.
What tips would you add to this list? Share them in the comments below!
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