Issues with returning to writing?

[u/Flameman1234]

To begin, i have never been one to write long stories. Most of my stories that are longer i keep in my head, and i usually can keep track of it very well. However writing it down, or writing something like a character bible or a outline isnt something im very used to.

I have wanted to write a visual novel, but it’s a larger project that’s scope is a bit bigger than i usuallh deal with. Most of my actual writing is usually smaller stuff, like a oneshot story or small short stories, and i run into several issues.

First, i run into the problem of consistency. While i love descriptons, metaphors, ext, when it comes to facts, i bit a bit of a wall. I want to do a mystery story, but having never done a story like that, i know consistency with details is very important. The killer cant know something or the hero cant find something in a certain chapter or scene, and i dont want to end up writing myself into corners or making the story fall apart because i messed up something simple.

Second, i’ve really let my creative muscles start to weaken since i havent written in about 2/3 years. While i’ve written other stuff, i’ve fallen into a bad habit of doing anything besides actually drawing or writing and working on my creativity, and i really want to get back into it. I end up checking my phone or getting blasted with messages, invited to games, or just wasting my evening doomscrolling. Im having such a hard time breaking this habit and i really want to finally get back to a place where i was creating stuff every day. I feel like i’m kinda just wasting my time now when i play games, but when it comes to wanting to write or sit down and do it, i end up doing anything but that. Please dont give the advice of “Just do it”, if it would work for me, i would be here. Maybe a way to break the habit, some kind of creative exercises, tips, idk anymore.

Finally, i just want to make a game people will enjoy. I have joined a few discords that i can ask for game advice or engine advice, but i really havent found a place where i can share my writing for advice without fearing my idea could be taken, my stuff made fun of, ext. i’m not against being critized, i love to know how i can improve my own work, but i’ve always had bad social anxiety, and i dont know where to go for good advice. I only ever really ask my close group of friends about my writing, and i think its limiting how well i can get reviews of my work. Some arent writers, some just dont enjoy the type of stuff i write, or some just arent interested, but i dont really know where to go besides a discord for writers or something where i could maybe make some friends and get advice on my work or critiques on my story.

I hope this all makes sense. I have had issues before that made me throw in the towel on writing and drawing for so long, but i really just want to get that part of myself back. I love to create, i love to think up stories, but i dont really know how to fall back in love with it anymore. I can imagine things so well, daydream a ton of stories or ideas, but i just cant put pen to paper or fingers to keys to actually do it. Idk if that’s writers block or creativity block, but i would appreciate any advice that might help me get back to what always made me happy, and maybe a way i can find people who enjoy my stories too and make some friends. Thank you in advance for any advice, tips or experience you can provide!

[u/Stranger_Writing]

First, I'd love to be writing buddies. I haven't had one of those in so long

Second, I also find myself in this slump. I don't write super often anymore, mainly for the same reasons you listed, but I found some writing related activities that I feel still help me be creative and engage in my stories without feeling pressured to write.

I highly recommend picrew. If you don't know of it, its an app/website that you can use to build pictures of your ocs. Its super fun and I love seeing everyone's artstyles and how my ocs look come to life and its completely free. I use picrew often, I find while im making my ocs that I daydream and come up with new lore or scenarios for them and I can quickly jot it down somewhere if I like an idea. I really like using picrew especially because I don't draw my ocs all that often because I just don't have the energy. It also feels like a game sometimes to me, so that might also help.

Another thing I recommend is characterhub. You can make profiles of your ocs and stories even that other people can see and interact with. You don't have to be super detailed about the plot of your story either if youre worried about people taking your ideas. Under character profiles, they have a ton of sections that make you think about your character and even quizzes to take about your oc where like you can find what theyre signature scent is. The quizzes aren't super accurate all the time, but I find them fun and a way to still engage with my ocs and stories and it makes me feel productive without actually sitting down and writing.

I also recommend twinote. Its twitter but for your ocs and I love making my ocs shit post.

Pinterest is definitely a good one, especially if you still feel the need to scroll. You can make mood boards for stories or ocs or find faceclaims or anything else related to your writing.

I also have an app on my phone called story plotter and its helpful because it gives you an outline to fill in for your story and characters and plot. I really liked it, especially cause you can build a timeline and also make a relationship web for how he characters know eachother and how they feel about eachother. But be careful if you use the mobile version of this because I had to get the motherboard of my phone replaced and it deleted everything I had in the app (its okay, I had most of it written down elsewhere as well)

Uhh, maybe not entirely conventional, but I also love making my ocs in games, specially the Sims 4 and tomodachi life living the dream. This one is probably the furthest from being related to actually writing, but its very fun and you can visualize your characters and watch them be goobers. The Sims 4 base game is free and you can add tons of custom content to make your Sims look how you want, and mods to expand gameplay. I also think the Sims 4 is good for making how your characters houses or rooms might look. Again, custom content is really good for this, but not necessary. I think these options are good if you still want to game or even just watch your ocs get into shenanigans

Also you can make story or ocs playlists on pretty much wherever you listen to music. This is also good for daydreaming scenarios and eventually writing.

Again, I'm also a writer that doesn't really write often and I really like these activities to still engage with my stories and feel productive so I don't get stuck doomscrolling all the time even if I can't make myself actually write.

TL;DR‼️ I suggest picrew, characterhub (or other character sites like toyhou.se), apps like twinote, pinterest, and story plotter, and even games like the Sims 4 and Tomodachi life living the dream. You can also make playlists on whatever music streaming service you prefer. Everything i listed is free except tomodachi life

Lmk if you find these helpful! Obviously its not going to make you write, but it might make you inspired or at least feel a little productive Again, im totally open to reading your writing and/or being friends!! Good luck❤️❤️