Writing

I had planned on being a writer, but the collapse of the magazine industry and life had other plans for me.

The only way to start writing again is by starting to write. Whatever it is or whatever you want, write it. It might look like crap, but it'll look a lot better the 8th or 9th time you revise it. If you are serious about wanting to write a book, you just have to practice. Write something every day. Pick a time of the day convenient and write. Make sure you have no distractions. It will take a while, but you'll succeed.

The only other advice is to avoid self-publishing. That's just a vanity trap.