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How To Get Back into Writing after a Long Break (Accidental or Otherwise)

Blogging, Fiction Writing · 26 August 2015

It’s inevitable, really.

You get your writing routine down. You’re writing strong for days, weeks, months. Then something happens.

You take a day off. Then two. And before you know it, you’re cringing every time you see your keyboard or your dusty pen. And you find yourself unsure how to break back into your WIP.

That’s when the self-destructive questions start. Do I have what it takes anymore? What if I forgot everything about writing since the last time I wrote?

Don’t worry. You’ve still got it! You just need a little psychological trick to access your writer self again.

Because, seriously, you’re not the only person in the world to take a writing break. Wether you write fiction, technical manuals, or blog posts everyone needs a break. Because even if you’ve got your writing routine down pat, you’re going to want a vacation once in awhile.

So of course there’s a way back in.

And how exactly do you get back into writing after the lapse?

That’s what a reader asked me recently. She found herself at the end of a long summer, without a single word written.

This is what I told her.

Reader Question: How Do I Get Back into Writing after a Long Break?

Hey Writer,

This is a great question and something every writer deals with.

My tip to overcome a writing hiatus that makes you feel stuck is to write a journal entry.

Talk about anything at all. Write about a writing tip you heard recently and in what way you plan to use it in your story. Write about the room you’re sitting in. What it looks and smells and sounds like. Write about the writing skills you’re practicing now. Or how frustrating writers block can be.

Still struggling? Write the same word over an over again like author, Maya Angelou does.

What I try to do is write. I may write for two weeks ‘the cat sat on the mat, that is that, not a rat,’…. And it might be just the most boring and awful stuff. But I try. When I’m writing, I write. And then it’s as if the muse is convinced that I’m serious and says, ‘Okay. Okay. I’ll come. – Maya Angelou

It won’t be long before you’re mind feels limbered up again and you start to feel that old excitement. If it takes longer than you thought it would and you start to worry that this will never pass, take a break. Then write another journal entry the next day. Eventually it will come back to you.

And like author, Louis L’amour said:

Start writing, no matter what. The water doesn’t flow until the faucet is turned on.

Even if the writing sucks.

Try this out. Because when you overcome the hiatus-induced block this time, you’ll know for the rest of your life that you have what it takes to keep writing.

Someone you know would love this. Send it to them.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Steve Wybourn says

    26 August 2015 at 6:51 am

    There’s something so simple and comforting about this. I know it works, I’ve used this approach myself. But, sometimes, it’s necessary to be reminded, particularly if you’re panicking and not able to think clearly. That’s what I love about writing, it can be calming, reassuring and can lead to a state of mind where curiosity, imagination and creativity slowly emerge. Writing to get back to writing. I love it.

    Reply
    • Mandy says

      30 August 2015 at 3:51 pm

      Maybe we just overcomplicate writing in the first place, Steve. Too much pressure makes it hard to start.

      Reply
  2. christina says

    27 August 2015 at 3:04 pm

    Thank you, this really helped me.

    Reply
    • Mandy says

      30 August 2015 at 3:48 pm

      So glad to hear it, Christina.

      Reply
  3. Patty Wonderly says

    16 November 2015 at 5:54 pm

    I have used both methods described and recently overcame yet another writer break by going back to an exercise book called “The 3 a.m. Epiphany”. I write in my journal each morning, so that isn’t sufficient any more to kickstart my routine. The exercises serve two purposes. They get me writing and they force me focus on honing craft. I often find myself in the middle of an exercise thinking about the current project and wanting to get back to it. Mission accomplished!

    Reply
    • Mandy says

      18 November 2015 at 1:08 pm

      Nice, Patty! I’m glad you found something that gets you writing.

      Reply
  4. Becky says

    13 August 2016 at 4:13 pm

    I use Roberta Allen’s How to Play With Serious Writing. It has some wonderful ways to oil my rusty brain and get me going again.

    Reply
    • Mandy Wallace says

      17 August 2016 at 12:11 pm

      Very helpful, Becky. Thanks!

      Reply
  5. Jane says

    3 January 2017 at 6:49 pm

    There were some excellent tips. I’ve had writers block for many years but even so, these tips work for one day away or many as you’ve said. Thank you. Your post got to me at the right time, or should I say the, write time? lol

    Reply
    • Mandy says

      5 January 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Happy it helped out!

      Reply
  6. Jane says

    3 January 2017 at 6:55 pm

    I just left the above comment and clicked on your link for the character most get wrong, can’t remember the exact title. But when I entered my email, and I checked it twice, the form gave me an error message. Something about wrong format or something. So I thought I’d let you know that there may be a problem with it.

    Reply
    • Mandy says

      5 January 2017 at 3:25 pm

      Thanks, I’ll look into it.

      Reply
  7. Christine says

    17 February 2018 at 3:05 am

    Hi Mandy,
    I’m thinking about re-starting my creative writing after years of medical (read: very technical) writing.

    My writing talents blossomed in high school, and I took classes at the UI Writers Workshop when I was a junior in Journalism school.

    Any ideas on how to help my brain switch back to the creative side?

    Reply
    • M Wallace says

      19 February 2018 at 3:25 pm

      You know, I always wish there was a shortcut. Like when I haven’t read fiction in a long time (because it’s so much easier to read articles off my phone), I find it’s SO hard to get back into it.

      It’s like a brain switch too going from reading those short sentence online things delivered in bite sized pieces and easy to swallow. The only way I’ve found to get back into fiction is just keep reading through the clunky awkwardness. Eventually I shift back into gear and it flows naturally again.

      I’m guessing it’s the same with creative writing. Let me know how it goes!

      Reply

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