How do you do it? I mean what's your method or motivation to just sit and write? The other day I was thinking back to characters from a movie I liked and when I got to one name it stuck.... and then this name became a character and now this character has a story. I wish to write it but don't know how I should start.

It depends on what type of writer/person you are. Everyone has different methods.


I sit and write for at least 1 hour every morning. Even if I have no ideas, or it's just nonsense. Sit and write. Get it done. It's an exercise, just like stretching before you go for a big run.

The physical act of writing itself opens many doors of inspiration.

If I already have an idea, write it down immediately. Do not wait for more ideas to come along before you address the first one. Work with what you have, more will come later, usually while you're writing your first idea down.


Start wherever the character tells you to. Worry about a beginning/middle/end later.

Do you use computer, paper and pencil or just whatever is handy/comfortable?

It depends whether you're an outliner or discovery writer. Try both and see what works for you. You may find you are somewhere in between. I am an outliner pretty much through and through, so I won't write something until I not only have a beginning, middle and end, but I also have several subplots, established journeys, thorough characterisation and world creation and all other aspects of the story planned in good detail. Different horses for different courses.

I think I may fall more to the outliner side. I already have several plot concepts rolling around. That's not hard for me at all, figuring out how to put it to paper seems to be my delima.

if you got a character who has a story already, it's dead easy.

just start on tuesday morning when he pours his first cup of coffee.

and if typing your first sentence itself is what gives you a hard time:

remember you got a backspace key, just in case