Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/47511
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Starting from a blank page is always hard, so don’t beat yourself up. But there are tools that will help you get started:

The first I would recommend is [Scapple by Literature and Latte](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scapple/overview).

Scapple is a virtual corkboard where you can store ideas before you start writing. I start with photographs of my characters and settings. I drop in pieces of dialogue, ideas for scenes, character outlines. Anything that comes to mind goes on my corkboard.

The next tool I use is [The Story Grid](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/1936891352). Not only has Shawn Coyne written this great book but he also has free outlining tools on his website and does a great podcast with Tim Grahl where he teaches him how to write a novel from beginning to end.

Once I’ve outlined, I use [Scrivener](https://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener/overview). Unlike Word, Scrivener allows you to easily write out of order, which I love to do. I start with the easiest scenes, those I'm inspired to write, and get those down first. I often write the first few chapters, then the last few. Because, once I know the beginning and end, as if they're two places on opposite sides of the map, I only have to figure out how to get from A to B, and which stops I need to make en-route. That helps me figure out the middle.

Read [Writing Down The Bones by Natalie Goldberg](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/161180308X). It's an excellent book to inspire you to write. She recommends going to the stationery store and buying a crappy, cheap notebook. Crappy notebooks, as opposed to beautiful hardback tomes, free you up to write absolute crap. But out of that dung heap, you can dig for gems. It composts over time (as Natalie puts it) and ideas become rich and refined. Buy a fast pen that moves across the page as quickly as your thoughts, and just write. Write at the bus stop. Write on the train. Write in cafes. Let the words pour out without checking yourself or editing any of them.

Because, if you stare at the blank page waiting for diamonds to spring from your fingertips, you'll never write anything.

> “Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts.” -- Anne Lamott.

How to start? Just write! Let yourself go. Have fun. Spill your soul on the page.

Good luck!

Original score: 1