Getting started on a writing project, according to my anecdotal research, is the hardest step to take.
How do we get all the pieces to the writing jigsaw puzzle to coalesce into a masterpiece?
There are almost as many techniques as there are writers, but there are a few main approaches that center around how best to organize the material.
Knowing the purpose and audience makes organizing things much easier, but we still have to take that first step, write that first sentence.
There seem to be two camps of action: the “seat of my pants” scribes and the uber organization writers.
Just Write
Some people have to get the words out of their heads. For them, just plunging in is the best method to start. Don’t worry about mistakes, transitions, or even clumping information logically.
This reminds me of when I took swimming lessons as a child. There was no slow progress into the cold pool. We just jumped in, making sure to get our heads underwater. After the initial shock, our bodies were accustomed to the temperature, and it was easier to concentrate on swimming.
This method requires vigorous revision, though. The writer must go back and clean up the content to make sure the reader can follow. (Most effective writing is not Finnegan’s Wake.)
Organize, Organize, Organize
Some writers are compelled to have everything laid out nice and neat before they type a single word.
This always reminds me of going on vacation with Clipboard People. They always have every minute scheduled and no time for just lounging around or winging it for an adventure.
While this approach can save a lot of time in revision, the danger is spending so much time organizing that you never get started.
Take a Pinch of This, a Pinch of That
I find the best approach to be a hybrid. Have a basic idea of where to place the pieces, then dive in.
I have a friend who will sit and stare out into space for a while, then start writing. She organizes the material in her head before she composes anything.
Many experienced writers will do this. They look like they’re goofing off, but they are processing things. Even jotting down a few phrases in a rough outline helps give a writer a path to follow.
Whichever approach you take, never forget that you need to take the time to revise. There is no “first time is always right” shortcut in writing.
Finding the most comfortable method to begin makes a writer’s life so much easier.
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