Graham's Theory of Writing #42
Writing is far easier when you don't have to think about how to start.
It's true, it's true. For the past three nights I've sat at my desk and stared first at the computer screen, then at some blank A4, then at one notepad, then at the A4 again. Finally, I've stared at my little Moleskine notepad and then given up and played around on t'interweb, which is much, much easier.
And yet at some point in the not all that distant but rapidly receding past, I managed to write a 100,000 word (or thereabouts) novel manuscript (which is also going ignored. Shh, let me finish my chain of thought before starting on a new one). The funny thing about that was that I started it without any real expectations in mind, having a deadline - 50,000 words in 30 days - and a very vague plot to start with. On the first night I wrote over 1,000 words. I haven't written that more than a handful of times since April.
Writing is easier when you don't have to start a story because you're already committed to the piece you decide to work on, whether by a large amount or a small one. It doesn't matter if you've only written a few paragraphs and then put it to one side. If you can pick those paragraphs up and add some more then you're doing your job. Eventually you get a whole story, one word at a time.
But beginnings are hard. This one is particularly hard, because I can't see where the beginning begins.
I'll let you know.
Comments
Add your comment
Sorry, anonymous comments are disabled. Please sign in with OpenID if you want to comment.
If you don't have an OpenID, you can get one at myopenid.com.
I absolutely agree, often we become so overwhelmed with beginnings that it is much harder to start.
I might do the nanowrimo in November although I have booked a holiday in Antigua in the first week...not sure If I could manage to be antisocial...
Great blog you have got here !
Janete
# On August 28, 2006 at 14:45:00 by janete Reply to this