It is time to get back to my writing. How about you? I have enjoyed the summer and my break from writing. Don’t get me wrong, I wrote almost every day, but it was more relaxed. I chose to spend time with my grandchildren and observing children in general. I now have several new ideas and characters for my stories, but I need to get back to my writing practice.
Getting back on track with my writing has not been an easy task, but here are some ideas that might help.
Use back to school energy
As a former classroom teacher, I consider the back to school time as a new or fresh beginning to the year. There is a sense of motivation and recommittment to our writing. Give yourself permission to “start over” with this exciting energy to take action and make writing happen. It can feel empowering. Consider this a fresh, happy restart.
It doesn’t take long to recommit to your writing
It really does not take long to reconnect and refocus your writing. I connected with my online writing group. We talk about what we are currently working on. This helped me to get excited again about a story I had been working on, but not with any regularity. Before I started I read-through what I had written and I could see some areas that needed revision. Try reconnecting with your “why”.
Goal Setting
Set a goal to work on it regularly. You can start out slow with just 15 minutes at a time. It’s perfectly OK to start gradually. Sometimes writers find restarting 7 days a week for several hours just causes them to procrastinate even longer.
Update your writing schedule
Speaking of your writing schedule, this is a great time to review your calendar and writing routine. Map out a schedule that works well with the more structured time you’ll now have available. It’s OK to revise your routine as things shift and change in your life.
Supports can help you stay on track
Build some supports to help you stay on track. As I mentioned above I have my online writing group for support. For you it might look like taking a class, working with a coach or mentor, or buddying up with another writer. The idea is to give yourself some kind of “accountability” so you know others are expecting your work — a useful trick to help you stay motivated.
Take time to celebrate the little wins
Whether you dive back in or just dip your toes. Be kind to yourself and celebrate the little wins with each word, sentence, paragraph or story you complete.
If you have any ideas to add, please let me know. I would love to hear from you.
With gratitude …
I am glad you’re here. Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I am grateful that I can share my writing journey with you. It is an endless journey of learning and growing. A journey that I am enjoying.
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