Beginning a Writing Project

 Both our photo quotes today deal with the beginning of a project. Beginnings are pretty important, for if there is no beginning, there is a great big black hole. 

One poster tells us that if you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed. The second poster says that the beginning is the most important part of the work. Some would beg to differ on that, but if there is no beginning, there can be no middle or ending. 

There are a few writers who create the ending of a story first and then fill in the beginning and middle sections. I'm thinking that the number who do that is relatively small. 

Let's look at the first piece of advice for today. It takes courage to start a new writing project. There's enthusiasm involved, too, but you must be a bit brave to put fingers to keyboard and begin. Thoughts drift through your mind. What if this doesn't work out like it is in my mind? What if I get partway and get stuck? What will happen if I never finish? Who is going to publish this? And on and on... Yes, we all let thoughts tumble through our minds even as we begin something new with excitement. The poster tells us that if we can start, we can finish and find some success. 

Regarding that success:  it could mean more than one thing. Our first thought is that what we've written will be published. After all, that's what we all aim for. Success can also mean something as simple as the fact that you finished what you started. Or that you had a feeling of satisfaction once you had written the first draft, edited and revised. Success doesn't always mean the same to every writer.

Plato offers us the second bit of advice. He says that the beginning is the most important part of the work. It's where you invite your reader in and make him/her want to continue reading. The beginning section is not merely the first sentence, or not even the initial paragraph. It's more than that. You are setting the scene, introducing characters, and identifying the problem your protagonist faces. That could take several chapters. Or possibly only one. You're the writer; it's your choice.

Have you ever noticed writing contests that ask for the first line of a story, or three lines? I ran across contests that require only the first line or first three just yesterday. That tells you the significance of the beginning. 

When we pick up a book at the bookstore or library, one of the first things we do is to read the frontispiece or back of the book which helps us decide if we want to read it or not. Another way to determine that is to read the first few paragraphs. You'll get an inkling of what kind of story it is and the style of the writer. Another aid in choosing to read or not. A strong beginning will draw the reader immediately.

Do you have writing projects in your files that are only the beginning? For whatever reason, you never went back to finish what started out as a great project. Take a good look at the what you wrote. Maybe the 'beginning' needs some revision before you can move on to the rest of the story.

Keep in mind that once begun, there's more to be done.