How to Start?
Where or how to start is a question a lot of people ask.
To those who have never written a whole novel, the answer is very simple. It's even easier than learning your ABC, where you need to start at the "very beginning" according to Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music.
Start writing anywhere! If you didn't get that... here it is again -
Start ANYWHERE.
Start with a thought. Thoughts can be easily translated into words. Write down your thoughts, even if they are in just key words. Jot down words, phrases, sentences, ideas, that include. ANYTHING.
Write ANYTHING, ANYWHERE.
That's right. I mean ANYWHERE. In bed, in a cafe, in the middle of the night. But mostly, you don't have to write in straight lines. True! Take a sheet of paper or get a notebook and write anywhere on that page, as the thoughts come into your head. Keep that piece of paper. Later you can connect up those thoughts with arrows. lines, and colours.
Then you can take any of those words, phrases and sentences, and expand on the idea.
While you are doing this, some kind of form will take place. You might see a scenario in your mind, a setting, a country, a town, people saying and doing things.
What are they doing? A story will begin to form from those ideas. Often they will connect with your own experiences or information already in your head.
Give the characters names. Don't spend too much time choosing names, you can always change them if they don't suit you later. But often these names stick with you.
Using some of the words and sentences you've already written, write a paragraph.
Don't be shy. No one will see it besides you. Don't show it to anyone. Not yet. People are not always as encouraging as you'd like them to be.
Now try to write a short outline of the story you have in your head so far.
Don't worry if it is short, you just need something to launch your ideas off. Like a springboard.
After a couple of days, write a scene that is in your head. It doesn't have to be the first scene in Chapter one. Just any scene. This means that you can write any scene at any time. With a computer, you can always cut and paste it into the correct place later. All you need to do is concentrate on writing.
Here is a TIP -
DO NOT EDIT OR DELETE ANYTHING. IT MIGHT COME IN USEFUL LATER. IGNORE MISTAKES UNLESS THEY ARE TINY, LIKE ONE WRONG SPELLING OR GRAMMATICAL MISTAKE.
Start! Now!
Rome wasn't built in a day. Remember it takes time to create something worthwhile.
Good Luck.
