How to fall in love with writing
The relationship that's changed my life...
Hello, I’m Molly, a full time creator based in the Scottish Highlands. Subscribers can enjoy weekly posts around the themes of slow living, thriving in a creative career, books & nature. Members get access to ALL my content, including video tea times, slow scrolls of all my favourites and seasonal book reviews.
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Writing is one of those passions that snuck up on me.
It wasn’t a love at first sight moment. But rather something that has grown over time. Â
Although our relationship has been turbulent, I’m not sure who I would be without my writing now. It has become an integral part of who I am. And I’m a better person for it.
Like any relationship, this is something that takes work. Over time and with much trial and error, I’ve curated a collection of tools that help keep this relationship feeling fresh.
This is how to fall, and remain, in love with writing.
Write for you first
There are many reasons to write.
It might be that you want to take up a new creative hobby. Perhaps you like to journal as a form of self-care or to relive memories. Maybe this is part of your job or something you would like to earn money for eventually.
Or, like me, maybe it’s a little bit of all of them.
My roughest patches with writing have arisen when I’ve felt like I’m doing it out of obligation. I’m writing what I feel I should, rather than what I want. It easy to forget why I started in the first place.
To combat this, I ensure that part of my repertoire includes writing that is just for me, with no intention of sharing or monetising it.
This is the number one tool that has helped keep that all important spark alive.
Create your writing nooks
One of the most wonderful things about writing is that you can do it anywhere.
However, I’ve found that it can help my motivation if I set up specific nooks where I can write most effectively.
Let me be clear, this does not have to be perfect. I use the word ‘nook’ deliberately as not many of us have an entire room that is purely dedicated to writing. I certainly don’t living in a Tiny Home!
My preferred method is to have a variety of writing spots. This can include my desk, on our sofa, in bed or even out and about, sitting in nature or, as I am now, in my newly converted camper, that has enabled me to write on the road.
Its all about staying flexible but equally putting yourself in the best headspace to create.
Indulge in writing rituals
Like many aspects of my life, I like to romanticise my writing.
This means I’ve set up a few rituals that make the process far more enjoyable.Â
For me, this can include lighting a candle (I love this vintage books one from a local Highland company), listening to classical music (this is my favourite music YouTube channel and, of course, making myself a warming cup of tea. If I’m feeling especially fancy, I may even use my teapot!
Write a variety
I publish a Substack post once a week. This means that a lot of my writing is focused on producing non-fiction blog style posts.
However, I love to experiment with different formats. There are so many to choose from, including journaling (either free writing or using prompts), research articles, short stories (or long ones!), poetry or even song writing, to name a few.
I highly recommend the creative writing classes on Skillshare if you’d like to expand your writing repertoire. This platform has a fantastic variety of classes (beyond just writing) and regular readers will know that this is my go-to platform to polish my creative skills.
If you want to try out Skillshare for free, then click HERE to get a 1-month free trial with them*.
(*This is not a paid ad. I do work with Skillshare over on my YouTube but wanted to open this offer to my Substack readers as well!)
Find inspiration
A writer shouldn’t always be writing. They should also be finding things to write about.
You can find inspiration in all sorts of places. I’ve often referred to Julia Cameron’s concept of taking yourself out on an artist’s date (mentioned in her book The artist’s way), which is a solo endeavour where you seek out places that will inspire you, whether that be a walk in nature or a visit to a gallery or bookshop.
Or if you don’t feel like leaving the house, there are plenty of sources of inspiration in our own homes. For me, this includes reading widely across a range of genres, but it can also mean doing some research into something that interests me, purely for the fun of it.
It doesn’t have to be directly related to what you are writing about. Any experience is valuable, and it can be revitalising to push yourself out of your comfort zone now and again.
Celebrate the journey
Although writing can be a lot of fun, it also takes hard work and dedication.
That’s why it can be motivating to set yourself milestones and celebrate them when you achieve them. This can be as small as writing in your journal for five days in a row or perhaps more ambitious, like publishing your first Substack post.
You are in this for the long haul, so make sure you treat yourself to a fancy brand or tea of even a mini break away now and again.
You deserve it.
I’d love to hear from other writers, so please share your thoughts and advice in the comments.
Until next week,
Molly xx
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I decided to write a seasonal letter to my friends, so far I have done Spring and Summer I print it out and send it as it is too long for short hand. The lovely thing is that my mum in law keeps and re reads which is special. I am also doing a seasonal common place book which involves some writing yet it isn't personal which is nice. I look for poems and small saying from classic literature, it is amazing how much there is that is tied in with the seasons! Thank you for inspiring us to write Molly and I agree you do need to write something you like!
This post is good timing for me! I posted my first Substack yesterday about creativity and how I am using writing as an outlet. One of the things I do is set aside an hour 3-4 times a week to write. This removes some of the pressure that can exist because I feel like technically one is never "done" writing. I can focus on writing for an hour at a time, and then if I want to or am able to do more I can!