We all need a way to express ourselves whether that be through a creative outlet like art or fashion. For others, it’s writing.
Creative writing allows self-expression, investigating varied worlds and characters, and serves as an escape from daily life. Writing as a hobby is not exclusive to just novelists and poets; anyone can participate as writing stories, articles, or keeping a journal presents a fulfilling opportunity to make the most of your downtime.
Now perhaps you’re just starting out on your writing journey, or you’re stuck on where to begin and are wondering, how do you start writing as a hobby?
Allow us to help – read on and find out more!
Is Writing a Good Hobby?
Writing is an art form that can be shared with others or kept totally private. It’s a way to escape the real world and make sense of it. Writing can allow you to relax and take stock away from your hectic modern lifestyle.
It’s completely free! All you need is some form of paper and a pen, your phone, or a word processor on your computer. Your imagination is the only thing that limits you from every possibility.
When we think of writing, we may think firstly of authors or journalists who are under pressure to meet deadlines and demands from editors. However, writing as a hobby comes with none of those pressures. You are free to work at your own pace, and however, you like.
Remember, creativity and self-expression have no rules. You are free to experiment with the genres you love, and come up with completely new ideas. Once you’ve written these down, they are there forever for you to look back on and cherish.
Tips for How to Start Writing as a Hobby
1. Set Up a Comfortable Writing Space
A hobby is meant to be enjoyable, right? So, it makes sense for the space you dedicate to that hobby to be comfortable. Dedicate a surface in your home, whether that be a desk space or your kitchen table. Grab yourself a comfy chair and a hot drink and get cozy!
Or perhaps you prefer to get outside. Find the perfect spot in your local park or your favorite coffee shop. Find somewhere that provides the inspiration you need.
It’s also great to switch up your workspace. This can spark inspiration if you’re struggling for ideas. People watching, a new space and a different atmosphere can work wonders!
2. Remove Distractions
To make the most of your writing time, it’s important to set out a routine that works for you. Set aside time once a day or even once a week to sit down and write. This will keep you accountable for your new hobby.
Your writing time should also be a time away from the world where you can focus on yourself and your work. As we mentioned above, get yourself comfortable, and remove your phone or any other distractions.
3. Read as Much As You Can
Reading and writing are each other’s bread and butter. You won’t get one without the other.
Read books, magazines, screenplays, poetry, and blogs. If you expose yourself to a diverse range of writing, the more you’ll understand how that writing is structured and how to get the most out of your own work.
The benefits of reading include learning about the plot, characters, world-building and style, as well as how to engage a reader.
4. Experiment with Different Mediums
You may have your heart set on writing a particular format of writing. But even as a budding author or poet, it can be useful to experiment with other mediums.
Instead of diving straight into writing a novel, why not start with a short story?
By starting small, you’ll be able to quickly identify what you love about your writing and where you’d like to improve. You’ll also feel that sense of accomplishment a lot quicker.
Want to write a screenplay? Start by writing a short film, before moving on to a feature.
Keen on poetry? Start with a haiku before moving on to your epic poem!
What if you’re not sure which type of writer you’d like to be? You don’t have an idea for a story just yet? Why not start journalling or blogging? Journalling is a fantastic first step, jotting down the events of your day or your inner thoughts.
As you continue to write, your journal entries or blog posts could then spark inspiration for a future novel or script!
Of course, you do not have to share your work with the world. The beauty of writing is that you can keep it just for yourself or share it when you’re ready.
Remember, you don’t have to stick to one particular medium. Try as many as you like!
5. Join a Writing Group
If you’d like to be held accountable for your writing or are open to receiving feedback on your work, joining a local group could help you along your way.
Writing groups are a priceless opportunity to meet fellow writers from different backgrounds and with diverse interests.
Google will be your best friend in finding such groups. Just type in your location and then ‘writing groups’. Facebook is also a brilliant resource for connecting with other writers in your local area and many groups will have dedicated pages there.
6. Just Start Writing
This may seem like a pretty straightforward answer, but it is very easy to talk yourself out of writing. This could be for fear of not having any ideas, struggling to get your ideas down on paper, or your writing not turning out how you first imagined.
But the danger with this is that you’ll never get started. If it’s inspiration you need, you can find it anywhere: through your day-to-day life, through your favorite book, TV show or movie. Turn an existing story on its head or tell the story of a minor character from an existing IP.
The Benefits of Writing for Fun
Organize thoughts and ideas
Especially in modern society, we have a lot to think about. Writing can be a great tool to help us organize our thoughts or see the world through a different lens.
Many writers find they make sense of the world around them through their work. It forces them to be creative and connect ideas together. This is something you can do too!
Communication
As you begin to connect ideas and stories together, you will discover new perspectives. This can support you in becoming a better communicator all around, as you’ll be more aware of the range of lenses others see the world through.
With this new awareness, comes a better understanding.
Self-reflection
Writing gives us the time and space to make sense of the world around us, as well as our own minds.
You can understand much about yourself and your thought processes by reflecting on what you’ve written, it’s all there in black and white. Our writing can reveal more about ourselves than we first thought or ever considered before.
Monetization
Once you have honed your writing skills, you may wish to research selling your work. Whether you’ve written blog posts, a novel or a screenplay, there are countless avenues you can explore.
If you are looking to pursue a writing career or to sell your work, make sure you have a strong portfolio to draw from. You’ll also need to revisit and revise your work to make sure it’s the best it can possibly be.
Related Celtx Blog: How Much To Charge to Write a Script [By Script Type]
Promote yourself on social media or seek representation from a literary agent. Or perhaps you want to start a blog to share your work and attract businesses to sponsor you or advertise on your site.
You can also apply to writer positions such as copy or content writers, or perhaps you’d like to go freelance on a platform like Fiverr. There are so many opportunities ready and waiting!
Helpful Writing Tools
Dedicated Pen and Paper
Ready yourself a notebook and pen specifically for your writing. That way everything is in one place and easily accessible. If you prefer to write on different pieces of paper, find a file or folder to keep everything in.
If you prefer to use technology, create a specific folder on your computer to store all your files in. Use free writing tools like Google Docs to write with or purchase a word processor like Microsoft Word.
If like us, screenplays are your speciality, try out a screenwriting software!
Support Tools
Nothing should stop you from being your most creative self. Spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting can be a frustrating part of writing, so make sure to utilize online and downloadable tools, many of which are free or have free account options!
Here are some of our recommendations:
- Celtx Screenwriting Software (for the screenwriters!)
- Grammarly (spelling and grammar check program)
- Clippings.me (a portfolio to share your work with the world)
- Google Docs (free word processing tool)
- Google Drive (free cloud-based storage solution for your writing files)
- Stayfocsd (Chrome extension to keep you, well, focused!)
Conclusion
There we have it! We hope we’ve opened your eyes to the joys and benefits of writing as a hobby. The most important thing is to get started and let your imagination lead the way.
Well, what are you waiting for?