Story Starters

Sometimes getting a story started is the most difficult step of the process. I've often found that I have an idea of what I want to say, but I don't really know how I want to say it. For me, the solution is to just start putting words to paper. I will write down the thoughts as they come to me and edit later; organizing topic into a coherent flow and correcting spelling and punctuation errors. When I began writing, I would stop to edit my writing too soon, too frequently, and lost all my momentum. Now I know that it is better to stay with a thought stream until the words run dry. Here are a few suggestions for you to try when you find yourself stumbling before you even start:

Preparation - This is always a good first step, just make sure it's not your only step. I think too many would-be writers get stuck here; preparing to put words to paper, but never actually doing it. How do you prepare yourself to write? Begin by assuring yourself that your voice deserves to be heard. Lack of confidence can cripple a new author more surely then lack of talent or opportunity. Do not mimic someone else's style. That is their voice and your work will be shallow and artificial if you succumb to this temptation. Just know that you are wonderfully unique and your words can only come from you. Prepare yourself for success, but also prepare yourself to falter. Notice, I didn't say failure. You will not be perfect. In fact you will only be great about 1% of the time. Ty Cobb holds the highest best batting average for professional baseball, hitting the ball 4100 times, or .366 of the time (1). 117 of those hits were home runs. Ty Cobb's career lasted 22 years and he was at bat 11,400 times. 1% of the time, he hit a home run.

Planning - There is no right or wrong amount of planning necessary. Some writers prefer to outline their story, create character profiles and detailed back stories before they ever start writing. Others will just go with the flow. I remember Stephen King compared his process to excavating a fossil, brushing away bits of dirt and gradually uncovering the beast below the surface. I can relate to this analogy because my stories have always taken on a life of their own. I could spend hours, days, weeks or months plotting and outlining a story, only to find my characters have their own ideas. Jeffrey Deaver says he outlines all of his books before beginning. JRR Tolkien spent ten years creating a mythical world, with history, politics, legends and language for The Lord of the Rings. (2) How much planning you do is really up to you, just don't confuse planning with progress.

Be Proactive - Look for inspiration, don't wait for it to come for you. Story ideas are not hard to find, you just have to open your eyes and your mind to see them. When you hear the latest news, ask "What If"

What if it was me, how would I feel / respond / react?

What if the police arrived earlier / later?

What if the victim had supernatural powers?

What if it's all a cover up and there's something else going on?

When you see people at a distance, imagine what they are saying to each other. What is their relationship? Are they terrorist or tourist? Listen, observe and interact. Your work will express your unique view of the world so View the World. Find your inspiration and when you do, write.

Pick and Choose - Not every inspired idea will lead to a fully realized story or article. Sometimes your inspiration evaporates before you get one paragraph on the page. It's hard to give up on a piece that isn't working. Especially after you've dedicated so much time in preparing yourself to write, planning, proactively seeking inspiration. I don't discard these stalled attempts entirely. I physically and mentally file them away for a later day. The point is: I don't force myself to finish a story if it's going nowhere. The result isn't worth the effort and I've got more stories to start.

1. The Hitters.com

2. Wikipedia