So this week was my first week back after my long break- a break which was much needed and I was glad I took.
But I have to admit after such a while away from writing I was seriously nervous about getting back to actual writing.
At the beginning of the week I wasn’t even been able to look at the manuscript I’d been working on before Christmas.
Why?
I have no idea 😀
I was just really nervous about starting writing again. I’m sure a lot of it was to do with the fact I had such a long break, in which I only did tiny bits of writing here and there, all of which had nothing to do with the story I’m currently working on.
The thing is, it wasn’t even as though I had to start from a blank page. I am nearly finished with my current manuscript, it’s just the last few chapters that need doing, and I know exactly how they are going to go.
But mid-week, I pushed myself past the irrational worry of writing again and got out the folder with all my plans and inspiration sheets.
Well, it was an almost instant reaction.
I flicked through my chapter plans, my character sheets, my pictures and BAM! The excitement flooded back to me!
That intense excitement and passion that came flooding back to me in that moment drowned out any worry I had about writing after such a long break, and I opened up my manuscript and got straight back to it!
And it has been so good getting back to it! I forgot how much I need to write 😀 It was instant relief, and I got so into it I looked up at my clock a while after and three and a half hours had whipped by without me noticing!
Next week I will go back to having my status reports beneath my posts, as they always helped me keep focus and see if I was achieving my goals. My daily word count target during weekdays will still be 2000 words, and as with last year I will be taking weekends off.
So here’s to another great year of writing for us all!
Have you ever had trouble getting back into writing? How do you get your writing skills back into shape? Have you set yourself any daily word count goals?
*This is a scheduled post and I will be back on Monday to reply to comments and emails. Have a great weekend!*
A Writer's Life For Me. 
Glad to hear you’re up and running again 🙂
Thank you so much! It took a while, but it’s nice getting back into it 😀
Have I ever! I’m still right in the middle of that writing slump. I never realized how much physical notes could help in that case, maybe I should start with making those.
Being in a writing slump can be pretty demotivating! I hope you manage to get out of it soon 😀
Welcome back to the fun. Never had much of a problem getting back into writing. My issue tends to be that I start at full speed and wear down by day three. Always forget that I’m not as young as I used to be and my neck can only take the non-office for so long.
Getting burnt out can be pretty exhausting! Hope you’re doing well on your writing now though! 🙂
Limping along. Honestly, I think it’s more that the weather has me groggy. Even going to bed early doesn’t seem to help me.
The weather always has an effect, especially this gloomy, dark, wet weather (at least here!). Hope it gets better for you soon!
Thanks. Winter always seems to do this to me. I just don’t function well in the cold or really hot weather. Body and mind always want to curl up for a nap.
I still havent opened up my manuscript yet! In my defence, I have been working on other writing projects, and the first week back to normal had appointments EVERY day. But I am determined that Monday will be the day for me. And once I start, that’s it; it’s intense till the first draft is complete. I think that’s why I always find it hard to get going after a break. I’m hoping it will have the same effect on me that yours had on you!
I’m sure it will have the same effect! It’s always awesome opening up your manuscript and remembering the excitement for that story 😀 Good luck with it, hope today is your writing day!
I unintentionally took December off of writing, and I was really worried about getting back in — but mostly it was fighting bad habits and the slight resurgence of doubt to push myself back into writing.
No daily word-count goals here, because this year I’m going to be working on editing as well. January is a month with a bunch going on still so I’m just trying to figure out what pattern is going to work best and what kind of guidelines I want to set for myself.
Welcome back!
I think it is more difficult to keep up with a routine in December due to the holidays and always so much going on. But I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one having difficulty getting back to it 😀 Hope you manage to find a routine and pattern that works for you!
Glad to have you back. I was forced to take time off by a multitude of company. After two months, I had the same feelings about my WIP. I decided to just read it, and it’s all building back up.
It is harder to keep up writing and, well, any sort of routine for anything in December for those who celebrate the holidays. It’s nice having a break, but just makes it harder getting back into it! But yeah, all the excitement comes flooding back when you start working on your writing again, doesn’t it? 😀
I’m glad you got the excitement back. It happens sometimes, a feeling of uncertainty when it comes down to picking up where we left off. I hope you have lots of fun in the coming week – with fresh eyes too! A break is always good. It gives us perspective 🙂
You’re totally right! Coming back to it with fresh eyes has actually been a huge help, I’ve noticed some gaps and things that need sorting, so it was good to have a break away from it. Hope your writing is going well! You never seem to stop 😀
It helps keep me sane if nothing else! 🙂
Well, you’re an inspiration! I’m still struggling to get back into the flow of it all, and I look at your blog and comments and am motivated to keep going! 🙂
January can be tough, but it sounds as though you already feel the spark of new beginnings and are raring to go. Your organisation skills are awesome and we all motivate each other. Thanks for your kind comment and, as always, your support 🙂
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That’s great that you’re back into it! Whenever I need to get started again, I read my manuscript, and that always gets me back into the flow.
I am reading over it now and doing a few bits of editing as I go, and all that excitement for the story and the characters has come flooding back 😀 Hope the prep for your book release is going well!
I’ve found that setting weekly word count goals instead of daily ones helped me stay on track. My day-to-day schedules can be very disjointed and sometimes I just don’t get around to working on my own projects, so having an end-goal for the week eliminated the slumps I’d fall into when I guilted myself for not meeting my daily counts. Good luck with your writing goals for the year!
That’s a great idea! Being able to look at the word count and able to chunk it up on days as you need would work really well. Good luck with your goals too! 🙂
I’ve done that plenty of times. Been staring at something I haven’t worked on in a while, completely trying and failing to get myself interested in picking it up again, yet, when I do, it’s like I never left. The moral of the story is to just do it and it’ll all work out, I guess.
A very good moral to that story, yes 😀 Just getting back into it is the best idea, instead of flaffing around and making yourself more and more nervous about it!
I’m having to stop and start a lot as I fit writing around studying and my day job. It makes getting back into the flow difficult. I’m struggling to get going again on a story I left part way through.
People who manage to write around day jobs and other commitments are pretty inspiring! I was always so exhausted I could barely even look at a screen! Good luck with getting back into it, I bet you’ll wonder why you left it when you get started again 😀
Had a similar problem myself after the end of November. ^-^ It’s a weird feeling, being kind of afraid to start writing again. Glad that we both managed to fight it off and blaze back into our projects! ^-^
It is a nice feeling being able to get back into writing, isn’t it? 😀 Especially after being nervous about just jumping back in! Good luck with your writing!
Thanks! ^-^ And good luck to you as well!
It really helps sometimes to take a break from writing. I often find, especially with the last story I completed, that when I take a break and get back to writing I become highly motivated and inspired. It’s great to hear that you are excited to get back to writing and I look forward to hearing about your progress 🙂
I think you’re right, taking a break really is important. It’s too easily to become flooded by all the writing and not be able to take a step back, so when you do break from it and come back it’s always exciting 😀
Good luck with your goals this year!
Thank you Mishka!
While I’ve never found the saying “Absence makes the heart grow fonder” to be anything but useless drivel in my personal life, it can sometimes help me to take a bit of a break from writing, let some ideas stew in the farthest recesses of my mind, and come back with a fresh perspective on my story and my writing.
Great to have you back, Mishka! 🙂
You’re right 😀 Having a break really can help, and although it made me a little nervous to start up writing again, it was so awesome finally getting back into it!
Looking forward to seeing where this year leads for all of us 🙂
I’m so glad to see you’re back! I’ve missed you. 🙂 Yes, I think a break is a good thing, and besides resting your brain, it can also give you a fresh set of eyes when you get back to it. 🙂 ❤