Write what you know?

When you’re starting a new project, there’s so much you don’t know! What happens? How does my character get into a mess? How will they save themselves? What happens in the end?

Somehow, once you start writing, all these questions (eventually) get answered. But the not knowing can be such a block to getting started. Instead of worrying about what you don’t (yet) know, focus on what you do know.

Create a short block of quiet time. Get out of the house or close your door. Still your mind for a moment. Now, write down everything you know about your new project. Who are your characters? What do you know about them? What scenes can you envision? What themes do you want to explore? What do you think might happen in the book?

Don’t worry if you have big holes in your plot or that your characters are so thin you can almost see through them! Just get down everything you think you know.

Keep this document handy. You’ll find yourself filling in more information as your story unfolds. And now you have this written down, your brain will get busy working on the things you need to discover.