I didn't want to jump the gun, so for the last month, I carried on writing and getting back into the swing of things without jinxing myself by talking about it.
Now, one month - more or less - in, I feel like I can confidently say that I'm back.
Over 2 Years
My longest writing streak was over 2 years, and then I broke the streak.
Over 2 years of daily writing and posting here on Hive, and it was something that I couldn't have/ wouldn't have done if it weren't for finding Hive nearly 5 years ago.
I had written a lot of fiction prior to finding Hive, mainly in the form of film scripts, but when I came here, I started writing game/ movie reviews, general blogs, I entered competitions, World Building was something that I really got into, which was great, because using the prompts I was able to fill out aspects of Off-World, the sci-fi universe I have been building and writing in for about 8 years now.
Being here has benefitted my writing skills immensely, and Hive Buzz really helped me continue my writing streaks and focus on writing daily, which helped to cement the habit.
Creative Writing
As I mentioned, I started writing Off-World about 8 years ago, and it started out as an alternative Star Wars sequel trilogy, because I was disappointed with how those films turned out.
About halfway through the first movie, I said to myself,
"What is the point of writing this? Nobody is going to see it, and there is literally nothing I can do with it once it's complete... I know, I'll make my own sci-fi universe, with blackjack, and hookers."
So, I got to work and wrote my own sci-fi story.
About 3 months later, I had completed 10x30 page scripts for the first season of a science fiction TV series.
I had big dreams, I thought I could maybe send it out to studios, or even try and self-fund and shoot it myself... then I thought,
"Who is going to give money to a student fresh out of graduating from film school? This isn't the 70s. I know, I'll write a novel, and then I can self-publish the novel, loads of film and TV adaptations seem to come from novels."
So, I started reformatting the entire 300 pages of script into a novel, and that process nearly broke me.
As you may know, screenplays are very different from prose writing, and the entire process took a long, long time.
To be honest, by the time I finished, I actually couldn't stand the idea.
Why did you not just rewrite the entire thing instead of reformatting it? Because I'm a stubborn fool who is also a glutton for pain.
Rewrite
A couple of years had passed by at this stage, and I worked on other things, wrote other things, filmed other things, and more or less moved on, but returned to the idea occasionally to touch it up.
I realised I'm not a very good prose writer, so while doing other things, I was doing a lot of reading and watching a lot of videos about writing to try and learn.
Occasionally, I would go back to the story and cringe, and do the odd re-write, but nothing was happening fast.
Then, I found the other chain, which led me to Hive.
Hive
I got here, was delighted to talk with other writers, and was able to start blogging and writing, while also publishing. I gained confidence and some great feedback, which helped me improve.
After a few months, I found some writing communities, and up to this point, I hadn't shared any fiction.
So, I said, feck it, I'm going to write some stories about this science fiction idea that has been swimming around my head for a while now.
The story I had written started suddenly. I loved the idea of starting something where the story has already been going on, but the audience comes into it halfway through. The novel opens with a ship coming out of a Jump; it is heavily damaged, and we follow the characters as they try to get back to where they're supposed to be.
They realise they have landed in dark space and desperately need to leave this uncharted region of unknown horrors.
I always said, there should be a prequel story, which is actually the first book, but released later... Now, I kind of realise that subconsciously, I was doing a Star Wars. Also, I was a stoner back then, so I would get some pretty weird ideas.
Anyway, when I decided to share my first fiction story on Hive, I decided I would write that prequel, in the hopes that finishing it would give me the drive to go back to the original story.
It didn't really do that; instead, it gave me the drive to explore more of this universe I built, and that is essentially what I have done for the last 5 years here.
Writing Streak
Because of my writing streaks, I have written a lot. Lots and lots of world-building, short stories, a novel, two novellas, and a bunch of novelettes.
When in the writing zone, I was able to churn stories out with ease, then I broke my streak and told myself I would work on editing those stories I had been writing.
Sadly, that didn't happen, and instead, I spent nearly a year away from Hive doing no writing or editing.
I haven't written much fiction since being back, but being back in the swing of writing means that I am in a good position, mentally, to start it up again.
So, yeah. What can we learn from all of this?
I guess one takeaway is that I can be pretty delusional. Also, I'm slightly obsessed. I'm stubborn, and I'm a realist, with just the right amount of constructive self-doubt.
What my time away taught me: When writing regularly, ideas flow easily, and you can effortlessly create. But, fall out of doing it daily, and you'll spend months, or even years, not doing it.
I think that is a principle that can lend itself to many different things.
Do it every day, or at least as regularly as you can.
