Far too much anxiety surrounds this question. Stop worrying about where to start, especially if it’s preventing you from starting at all. Your where to start is wired by your makeup. That means one answer won’t fit all. These tips from a personal writing coach could help you jumpstart your progress toward a published book.
Starting a Novel
Start with an outline of barebones scene ideas, if that sparks the muse. Some authors jot each scene down on a 3 x 5 card and arrange them in sequence. Others line the wall with butcher paper and pin the cards to the wall in sequence.
Write complete scenes without any idea where you’re going to use them. A string of scenes is a start. Prioritizing and adding transitions can always come later.
I like to start where the story is most likely to hook the reader. It should be something that has the power to carry the reader through the remainder of the novel. It could be the end, the middle or the beginning.
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Starting Non-Fiction
Starting a non-fiction book can be just as challenging as beginning a novel. Because you must approach the topic from a unique perspective, the starting point isn’t controlled by a story line. The existing market only tells you what to avoid.
Some strategies I’ve used with my clients include:
- Do your research and record key ideas others have used in one column and key ideas they’ve missed in another.
- Ask yourself, “Do I have a different take on the ideas others have used which makes it possible for me to put a new spin on an old concept?
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