#and zero editing skills so please don't judge

[wisteriagoesvroom]

to my father / to my future son, by ocean vuong

[spitdrunken]

Sorry if this is an odd question but have you got any tips for someone trying to get into writing? My literary skills aren't too shabby but when it comes down to having the energy and perseverance for it and other stuff not much gets done haha...

Don't worry, this is not an odd question at all! Since you said you're not really struggling with writing itself, but simply with starting/continuing to write, I'll focus on that! One of the main things is that if you really want to get into writing, it's best to do it daily and make it a habit. These are things that work for me personally:

Set a daily goal that's realistic for yourself. This doesn't have to be a huge amount of words, because writing is not a race. I personally have a daily writing goal of 1000 words, but you're the best judge for what would work in your situation. It doesn't have to be a big number, and there's nothing wrong with starting small! Even if it's only a 100 words a day, that's still a hundred more than zero. Hitting the goal always makes me feel good, and like I've been productive enough for that day, so to me it's really motivating!

Force yourself to write. Unfortunately, you're not always going to feel motivated. No one does. (Do know when you're burnt out or exhausted, in which case it's fine to take a break.) Most days, I really would rather sit around and play games, or watch tv HAHA But in those cases, I know I just don't 'feel' like it, and should sit down and do it anyway. I can promise you this, once you actually sit down and start, it's always easier than you think.

You might be wondering now how you 'force' to yourself to write. For me, The Most Dangerous Writing App has been a lifesaver. It's a website in which you can set either a word limit or a timer, and if you slow down while typing, it'll delete all of the progress you've made so far. For me personally, it's the perfect way to get into the flow of writing and to just get your ideas down.

When using a website like that though, and in general, just know that it's okay to feel like what you're writing down sucks. It's fine. You'll just make it not-suck later, and you should push through this feeling. One of the main things that will kill your flow and make writing a drag is to stress over every single word. Try to let it go. Whatever you write down, you can always come back and edit it later, or even cut it out entirely. Even if you don't end up using it, it's still good practice. But it's important to get your ideas on paper, rather than getting stuck in your head. If a scene really is not working out for you, it's completely fine to move to another part that you want to write at that moment!

If anyone else has advice, or more specific questions for me, please let me know!