5 Ways to Fall in Love With Writing Again
Every relationship requires a little TLC. Just like a garden doesn’t water itself, plant new seeds, or pull out its own weeds – relationships need nurturing to truly thrive. In many ways our relationship with writing is no different than our relationship to a spouse, co-worker, or best friend. And while these people are the most important parts of our life, it’s common to take them for granted from time to time.
If your writing feels a bit blah, don’t let another day go by without pulling out the ole watering can. There’s a reason you fell in love with writing in the first place. It can be creative, therapeutic, even spiritual – why go another day feeling lackluster? In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, here are five ways to nurture this very important relationship to help you rekindle your passion and fall in love with writing again.
#1 Gratitude
Having a tool to express ourselves, comment on the human condition, and bring something to life that exists only in our head is an amazing gift, something we have a tendency to forget. Think of a skill you only wish you had, like dancing for example. Professional dancers are able to emote through precise physical movement. They have abilities and lifelong training that the rest of us will never have – their grace, physical strength, and discipline is second to none.
There are people who look at writers with that same mystery and wonder. “How can you create such colorful worlds? How do your characters just pop off the page?” We’re fortunate. With just pen and paper we have everything we need to create the wild visuals and emotions that play in our imaginations. Whatever skills you excel at within this craft, remember there are people who are in complete awe of it. Don’t take your ability for granted another day.
#2 Memories
Like reflecting on a first love, it’s fun to remember the first time you realized you were a writer. The first time you picked up a pencil for, what felt like the blink of an eye, but what were really pages and pages of being transported into another world.
What’s the first story you wrote? How excited were you to tell it? Creativity can feel elusive for many artists, writers have the privilege of being able to physically hold the words they’ve written. Enjoy the nostalgia of all the feelings you experienced when you wrote your first project. Let your mind revel in all the positive emotions, connections, and struggles you worked through to make your writing stronger and clearer.
#3 Read
Sometimes we’re so busy writing in a vacuum that we abandon the things that inspired us to write in the first place. What is your favorite story? Who is your favorite author? And most importantly, when is the last time you let yourself enjoy them?
By becoming a reader again, you’ll not only appreciate the thing you love most about this craft, you’ll most likely get more excited about the possibility of reaching readers on the level that you were reached. By experiencing the power of a fantastic story, you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to make your story that for others.
#4 Dream
What is one of your big, scary writing goals? What masterpiece do you hope to create one day? Get excited about all the possibilities that could come with achieving this goal and allow yourself to dream. Stop living in a practical world. Allow yourself to see the writing future you want so clearly that you can taste it.
The worlds, characters, and circumstances we create in our stories have no limits – why create them for our dreams? By allowing yourself to stay in touch with the things that get you excited about life, you’ll be much more likely to sit down and get to work with a positive, enthusiastic attitude.
#5 Learn
“Once you stop learning, you start dying.” Said a guy who learned a lot (Albert Einstein). No matter how experienced we become, there’s always something to learn. If you’re a veteran writer, remember how exciting it was to discover new writing techniques, elements of story, and character development skills.
Become a sponge again. Join a class, take a webinar, or read a book on writing and take everything you know and throw it out the window for a few hours. No one can take away your knowledge and experience, so try listening with new ears and become inspired again.
David L. Hancock, Founder
Morgan James Publishing