3 Ways to Start Writing
So you have an idea, maybe a main character, or even a novel outline, and you’ve finally sorted out time to write. But the blank page is sitting in front of you laughing. How do you actually start a book in the first place? The biggest thing is to leave your fears, worries, expectations, and hopes behind you. Don’t consider the future, or who might read your book. The best way to get over your fear of the blank page is to ignore its blankness. Let me explain with 3 ways to start writing.
Just start writing
This one might seem frustratingly obvious. You’re probably reading it saying, “yes, well that’s the problem!” But hear me out. When you load up that empty doc or pull out that blank page the best thing to do isn’t to sit there thinking and planning. Just starting writing. Literally, the first words that appear in your mind, whether they’re coherent or not, fictional or real, or just random thought streams. Write it out. It instantly removes the blankness of the page, breaks your writer’s block, and ends the pressure you put on yourself. Don’t worry about the quality of what you’re writing either (let go of those expectations and hopes remember!) because no one actually has to read what you write except for yourself – that is until you want them to.
Find something to prompt you
A conversation, a person walking by, an object you can see, a writing prompt (If you’re a member you can check out ours or the writing prompt guy on Instagram), a movie, a character, a song, a meal. Even if it doesn’t end up in your story, describing something you can hear, see, smell, touch, or even taste gives starts your creative pot boiling. You’ll get ideas that spin and twirl into each other and maybe your main character will even appear in the frame as you go along.
Break it down into easy to manage chunks
Give yourself chunky goals. 10 minutes a day, 750 words a morning, half of your lunch break, an hour before bed. Instead of considering your story as a whole 80,000 words goal, or 42 chapters, or months of endless work, aim to get through it little bit by little bit. Even write out a to-do list and plan out your time effectively to get a handle on your book. You’ll get there faster than you realise.
What do you do to get inspired?
