Blog - COMPLETE WRITING... Cayman Islands
Writing the First Line
So you're not a professional writer and as a result you may think that what a writer does best is write...yes? Nope! What a writer does best (and this doesn't include you Stephen King), is procrastinate, although by definition, procrastination means putting something off that we don't want to do. But the fact is that when writers write, the world around us ceases to exist. We are so immersed in our art - we are enjoying it so much - that we literally enter an alternate state of being. In other words, we most definitely want to write. But here's the kicker. Here's why we reign supreme over procrastination. Here's what we don't want to do - what we don't enjoy. We are loathe to write that very first line. We dread the first line so much that we even have a name for it. Writer's Block. The first line of a paragraph. The first line of a chapter. The first line of a book. That's it. One line makes the difference between starting and/or completing a project today or 1 month from today or even 1 year from today. That first line is so overwhelmingly daunting that I have to wonder how many a magnum opus has withered into non existence.
So if you don't write for a living, don't be so hard on yourself when that first line doesn't manifest at the precise moment you need it to. Fear not, for it happens even to the best of writers. It isn't however, an excuse for not writing that email, or business letter, or toast, or whatever. The fact is that if you are of the human race, chances are good that sooner or later you will have to put pen to paper and formulate your darting thoughts into one cohesive document. And while many writers use writer's block as an excuse for not writing, it is precisely that - an excuse! An excuse born of fear because the reality is that it's easier to write that first line than you may think.
The next time, then, that you're stuck for that first line, here are some tips, as unconventional as they may be, that will help you start and complete whatever it is that you may be writing.
So if you don't write for a living, don't be so hard on yourself when that first line doesn't manifest at the precise moment you need it to. Fear not, for it happens even to the best of writers. It isn't however, an excuse for not writing that email, or business letter, or toast, or whatever. The fact is that if you are of the human race, chances are good that sooner or later you will have to put pen to paper and formulate your darting thoughts into one cohesive document. And while many writers use writer's block as an excuse for not writing, it is precisely that - an excuse! An excuse born of fear because the reality is that it's easier to write that first line than you may think.
The next time, then, that you're stuck for that first line, here are some tips, as unconventional as they may be, that will help you start and complete whatever it is that you may be writing.
- When your inner voice is telling you to 'leave it now and come back to it later', tell this voice to take a hike. Postponing the inevitable only serves to build unnecessary fear and anxiety whereas tackling the writing project immediately will get it out of the way and help build your self-confidence. So when the voice says 'not now', stay put.
- Remember that we're not talking about writing a bestselling novel here. You are merely seeking to convey information in a written format and in almost every situation, less than perfect is fine. In fact, I recommend it. There is something to be said for productivity.
- Set a time limit for completing the project. For example, if you have to write a job ad, you might allow yourself 1.5 hours to complete the ad. A one page newsletter? 1 day. Deadlines, even if self-imposed, are powerful inner persuaders, compelling us toward the finish line. For example, I'm now giving myself 20 minutes to complete this blog!
- Now what is it exactly that you want to say? In one sentence. Don't write it, say it out loud. If you are writing a job ad, you may be looking to recruit an administrative assistant..."I am a freelance writer seeking an administrative assistant." Now type it. It's as simple as that. Your first line done.
- Of course, you can dress your first line up with a few adjectives, but do that later. You may find that once you've completed the rest of the document, your first line will work fine as is.
- Keep your opening line simple. When in doubt, always revert to simple.
- While this technique works for starting new documents, you can also apply it to any part of a document that requires a first line.
OK, so now you have your first line written. What next? Right? Well, that's the subject for my next blog(s).
Posted by: Administrator Wednesday Jan 11, 2012 06:51
Categories: writing blog, Writing Tips for Non-Writers | Tags: blog, book, business letter, chapter, first line, newsletter, non-writer, opening line, procrastination, professional writer, Sonya, writer's block, writers, writing
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