okay, there I admitted it. I have fear of the first page. I’ve been all ready to start something new this week. Jotted some ideas down in a notebook. But haven’t been able to sit myself down in front of the computer and start writing. Well I sit there, but I’m not writing, I’m staring at the first page. Blank. I’m not amused with myself.
My usual method is to come up with a germ of an idea, then write the first few chapters to get to know my characters. Quite often I throw out the first chapter or so after I get into the book, but it seems to ground me in the story and lets me get to know the characters. But this week I haven’t even been able to make myself sit down and do that. I have all these doubts about how long I’ve been writing and haven’t sold. And I’m just frozen when I sit down and stare at that blank first page. I can get my butt in the chair and open Word, but I just freeze then.
Obviously I need to get over this. And it’s not even like writer’s block. It’s just a plain fear of starting yet another story. Another story that may not sell. I’m not sure why the doubt monsters are so huge this week. I”m not very pleased with myself this week. I have to get over this. Any suggestions? 
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Just do it. Write anything. Write, this is a story about….. Then after you get done, delete that part!
That doubt monster is a pesky SOB lately! He’s made his appearance across the country, including on my desk right next to the keyboard.
The only thing I can think of is to tell yourself it’s a first draft. You can make it shine the next time through. Give yourself permission to write crap.
And could you remind me of this technique the next time I need it? :cursing:
Usually my first five pages are the ones I change the most. Just write them and know you can change them.
I’m revising my mss. and it’s driving me nuts because I know there are things that need fixing, but read it, stare at it for an eternity, then move on without doing anything.
Actually, I had the same problem lately. I second Amy. Give yourself to write crap. It might turn out to be a diamond. Sometimes it helps me to listen to fav songs and imagine the scene; then I can jot it down…
Start on page two.
Jill!! LOL
Why didn’t I think of that?? Start on page two… 
When I get stuck I start with Dialogue. Sometimes it turns to a monologue, but hey, it’s a start….and as they say.. “You can’t fix a blank page.”
Good luck.
Ilove that start on page 2 idea! Interesting thought… Then we can call the saggy draggy middle, the pre-ending and just go from there.
hey, I like the “pre-ending” idea for the sagging middle too. I think we’re on to something…
Sometimes for me the first page comes easy, it’s everything after that that trips me up. And sometimes I see exactly how I want about page 20 to be and just can’t get there. Good Luck! I agree with everyone else, just start writing.:typing:
I love Jill’s idea of starting on page 2. But maybe tell yourself that it’s a fake first page and that it will be deleted. Then do it?
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