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A workshop in Portland changed how I start stories
I was at a free writing workshop at Powell's Books last month, and the leader made us write the first line of a story ten different ways. The seventh one, about a key hidden in a frozen pie, just clicked for me. Now I always try at least five openings before picking one. Anyone else have a trick for getting past that blank page?
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taylorhunt12d ago
Try writing the opening from the villain's point of view first, it cuts the pressure to sound perfect.
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matthew86412d ago
That trick about writing the first line ten different ways is solid. I do something similar where I set a timer for two minutes and just vomit out the worst possible openings on purpose. Getting the pressure off by making them intentionally bad lets me find a real starting point in the mess.
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