How to begin? Other articles address this topic, but sometimes this is the most daunting issue for many writers.
After you have determined what you wish to write, have formulated your main points – either in your mind or in an outline of some form, and have created the proper environment for best concentration (quiet with no distractions), then you are ready to write. Suppose you have done all of the above, and still no words come spilling out. What then?
As frustrating as this may be, it is not uncommon. Writers – all writers – seem to vacillate between two states. Either the words pour forth in an explosion of ideas and thoughts in such profusion and quickness that you almost can’t get them all recorded – this is referred to as the “fire hose” of writing – or you stare at an empty page interminably, with nothing. If the latter happens we suggest the following;
• Ask yourself some questions (no, not why you are enduring this?). If you were the reader, what would be your questions? What would you like to read? What would interest you in the subject? Ask as many questions of yourself as you need. Eventually in asking yourself questions, you will spawn an approach to begin. Once you have the beginning and are underway, it often gets easier and the ideas (and words) begin to flow.
• Pick a single thought and focus on it. Sometimes it is tough to begin because there is too much clouding your mind. Simplify.
• Calm down. Sometimes when you are so emotionally strung out about something, you can’t productively begin doing anything. You may need to pause and walk away for a while. Better to do this and come back later productively, than to continue to stew and waist time doing nothing.
• If still nothing, abandon your outline. Just pick something, somewhere in your topic and write about it. What you select may be the section you know the most about, the portion you perceive to be the easiest, or even may be the ending – that great wrap-up you have in mind. Just begin and then usually the rest will fall into place. Remember, you will edit it all later and put it together in finished form. Your WhiteSmoke error correcting writing software can help you immensely – think of it as your own personal professional editor.
• Consider the five “W’s and the “H.” These are the basic tenants of journalistic writing and they are aids for all writers. Simply, answer the following questions: what, who, when, where, why … and how?
If still you can’t begin, after all of the above, then maybe you should set the project aside for a while, until some clarity comes. Sometimes a good night’s sleep will do wonders – the brain works even when you are asleep.
