So I’m finally getting to work on my chainsaw edit, but, like all my stories, I started in the wrong place and have to write a new beginning. (I know, I know, I’m so backwards. Most people start too early, I always start too late. Go figure.)
I was really excited about getting to work, so I sat down, got out my new outline, started to type, and…was unimpressed.
Beginnings suck. For some reason, they always feel bad. Either they don’t work the way you plan, or you feel like you’re writing crap, or, especially in a first draft, your characters just aren’t jelling.
And then you get frustrated. And you either give up, or you keep trying to rewrite it until it doesn’t suck, and either way, it is a huge time suck.
Here’s a secret…your beginning doesn’t have to be perfect.
So, how do you get the motivation to move on?
You tell yourself whatever you need to. Tell yourself that you’ll come back to it, that it’ll read better when you’ve got a little distance. Tell yourself that you can have a cookie. Tell yourself that your family will still love you.
Tell yourself that you can come back and fix it after you’ve written the rest of the story and know what the beginning should be.
Me, I’m not worrying too much right now. Yes, this is a second draft and I know what my beginning needs to be, but I’m still keeping my options open. Aside from the straight opening, I also have flashback and in media res openings if the straight one doesn’t work.
Don’t let your beginning get you down. There’s so much story awaiting you, if you let yourself get there.
