10 Ways to Get Started Writing

10 March 2010 | Filed Under 10 Ways 


Lizzy Bennet, from Lost in Austen

Sometimes the hardest part about a writing session is the very beginning. In the words of Elizabeth Bennet:

“I can comprehend your going on charmingly, when you had once made a beginning; but what could set you off in the first place?”

Below I have listed 10 different ways to try to set you off on your writing. I hope at least one of them works for you!

1. Switch up your environment.
If you normally type away, try writing in a journal or on some notepaper. If you normally sit at your desk, try the floor or outside. Whatever you want, just try something different.

2. Take one minute to brainstorm.
Remember on timed essays, when your teachers told you to take a few minutes to think about what you’re going to write and sketch a quick outline? Do the same thing, but for your story.

3. Talk out a scene.
When you don’t have to slowly write out everything, your characters’ dialogue picks up more energy. This exercise can really spark good lines (which you’ll want to write down before you forget your own brilliance). Recording optional.

4. Free-write responsibly.
Some people are strong fans of free writing, but I usually think it a waste of time. If you must free write, work on a scene from your character’s backstory, or describe an important setting in your novel – basically anything that you can use later, whether you quote or summarize. Why waste your time writing something no one will ever see?

5. Get your character in trouble.
It’s difficult to get into the writing spirit when you don’t feel like you’ll be interested in what you write. And if that happens, no way your readers will be interested. So add some conflict right off the bat – start a scene where your character is in trouble. Then get them out of it.

6. Think about writing. Only. I dare you.
You heard me. Sit on your butt, stare at your blank screen or paper, and focus on your story, darn it. But don’t write a single word. Don’t you dare touch that keyboard/pen! Are you listening to me? Don’t you – HA! Couldn’t stay away for long, could you?

7. Set small goals.
“Write novel.” Yes, that does sound daunting. Let’s try, “Write first chapter.” That does sound better, much less pressure. But what’s to stop us from setting our goal as “Write first scene” or “Find good hook” for our writing session? Nothing, that’s what. Small bites, my friends.

8. Desperate times.
None of these working for you yet? Try a NaNoWriMo trick: set a small chunk of time, maybe five to fifteen minutes, and write! Write like the devil’s chasing you with the Red Pen of Doom! TickTickTick and Done! Look how much you wrote. That’s your new record. Beat it.

9. Time travel.
A particular scene tripping you up? Move on to the next one. Or the one two chapters down the road. Write the moment you’re in, it’s much easier than trying to force one you haven’t arrived at yet.

10. In my notebook, WORDS delete YOU.
Here’s your failsafe: go to Write or Die, select Kamikaze mode, and start. Oh, I’m sorry, did you stop writing for a moment? Too bad, we words don’t want to hang around all day with a lazy author. We thought you were a WRITER, man!

Comments

Leave a Reply




  • Welcome

    new haircut

    Hi, I'm Jenn, new grad student and old YA fantasy writer. I've long dreamed of being a novelist, and I bet you have too. I hope you find my blog helpful, inspiring, and maybe just a little bit fun. (But not too much fun. Writing is serious business, you know.)

    You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook, or email me at:
    jennifer.a.johnson7 at gmail dot com

  • Official Progress


    4/21 segments

    A narrator hijacks a cliche fantasy story, much to the chagrin of its characters.

    Status: Second revision



    1,639/70,000 words
    A young noblewoman with strange powers must choose: her king or her soul.

    Status: First draft



    1,087/70,000 words
    When a girl's heart is stolen, she's plunged into a world of magic and shadows - but can she get her heart back before she loses it completely?

    Status: First draft





  • All writing, unless otherwise specified, is the property of
    Jennifer Johnson © 2010