How do you begin your writing for the day?
Tips on getting started
It’s always a struggle with that very first word or sentence to get us started, right?
I’m a “head writer,” as I’ve explained to friends and family over the years. I start my process by thinking about the next project, whether an article or a book. I need to mull it over first before I can think about writing it.
I don’t know if this “mulling” makes getting those first few words down any easier, but it’s a step ahead rather than sitting there cold with nothing to draw from.
Where to begin
Some people like to solve this dilemma with an outline of their book. That has never really worked for me when I’m just getting started. I follow the advice of just writing without giving it a lot of thought. As I’ve said a million times, you can edit a blank page. I know I’ll be rewriting the entire document multiple times, but I have to get something down to find those better words and ideas. So, just write and don’t worry about grammar. Get the thoughts down.
Why should I keep reading?
This is a tricky question. You are still at the beginning of the book, and you don’t have much for the reader to sink into. But, think about it. Why would you want to keep reading at this juncture? That should be enough for you to keep going and have some questions in the back of your mind to propel your thoughts and fingers to keep going.
If you have made it this far, what’s the story?
By now, I have some idea where I’m going and what my book is about. That is a big step. This is often the place in the beginning when some writers are ready to take a step back and create an outline or a summary of the book. It can help make the rest of the journey a bit easier. As I’ve said, it is a different process for everyone, but I want to offer options here. You may try something new and see if these various steps work for you.
Do you plot it out or let it fly?
Maybe you know exactly where your book is going by this point. Or, you are still fumbling along. No matter. Take a step back and stop for a minute. This is where you may want to change your habits if you feel stuck. It’s OK to change your stipes and become a plotter. I knew the arc of my story, but I didn’t have the logistics to go from one scene to the next. So, I stopped, had some hot chocolate, and returned to the keyboard full of chocolate and ready to start writing again.
You have now identified different ways to go about beginning your work. I’m a believer in trying other methods depending on the day. If one process doesn’t seem to work well, you are not obligated to stay with it. Change it up. Try different things. If you keep writing, you know whatever it is you are doing is working? Congrats.