From the article: “What’s so hard about that first sentence is that you’re stuck with it. Everything else is going to flow out of that sentence. And by the time you’ve laid down the first two sentences, your options are all gone.” Joan Diddion.
My solution is simple: Write the first sentences LAST. From a blank page, simply begin typing whatever you had in mind in the first place without introduction. Once you have completed your piece, walk away for a few minutes and clear your mind. When you return, re-read it from the top without editing at all. Literally, keep your hands off the keyboard the entire time! By the time you read the last sentence your lead will have written itself. All you have to do is type it.
I use this technique all the time. I don't publish books but I do a good bit of written correspondence.
I'm saddened at the enormous loss of this young life. I came to your post today prior to potting up local wildflower seedlings, a meditative activity that I am hoping might free my un-mind to rove over the landscape of my children's novel, final draft of which I'm gearing up to start (again!). Fear, tragedy, the experience of beauty... 12-year-olds, 12-year-old readers are not immune to any of these... Also - I love the photo of the waterfall with the bold slash of that branch in the foreground - quite startling and unconventional - at least it seems like that to me. I'd love to know your feeling about that photo.
Im glad you are gearing up for the writing. Always a challenging task!
I'm glad you like that particular photo. I do too.
I came to it late in the day. I had been looking at that section from different perspectives earlier then continued up the drainage, exploring. Coming back down the creek along the side, the view you see here with the branches filling the frame occurred to me. I was taken with the scene, but was frustrated with the other perspectives. Walking away and then returning seemed to unearth a nice photograph.
From the article: “What’s so hard about that first sentence is that you’re stuck with it. Everything else is going to flow out of that sentence. And by the time you’ve laid down the first two sentences, your options are all gone.” Joan Diddion.
My solution is simple: Write the first sentences LAST. From a blank page, simply begin typing whatever you had in mind in the first place without introduction. Once you have completed your piece, walk away for a few minutes and clear your mind. When you return, re-read it from the top without editing at all. Literally, keep your hands off the keyboard the entire time! By the time you read the last sentence your lead will have written itself. All you have to do is type it.
I use this technique all the time. I don't publish books but I do a good bit of written correspondence.
Hey Chris,
I like your suggestion! Getting going and working through what you have to say and writing the lead last.
I'll try it out!
Cheers,
Keith
I'm saddened at the enormous loss of this young life. I came to your post today prior to potting up local wildflower seedlings, a meditative activity that I am hoping might free my un-mind to rove over the landscape of my children's novel, final draft of which I'm gearing up to start (again!). Fear, tragedy, the experience of beauty... 12-year-olds, 12-year-old readers are not immune to any of these... Also - I love the photo of the waterfall with the bold slash of that branch in the foreground - quite startling and unconventional - at least it seems like that to me. I'd love to know your feeling about that photo.
A tragic loss to be sure.
Im glad you are gearing up for the writing. Always a challenging task!
I'm glad you like that particular photo. I do too.
I came to it late in the day. I had been looking at that section from different perspectives earlier then continued up the drainage, exploring. Coming back down the creek along the side, the view you see here with the branches filling the frame occurred to me. I was taken with the scene, but was frustrated with the other perspectives. Walking away and then returning seemed to unearth a nice photograph.
All the best with your writing!