The First Sentence

If someone asked me what the most difficult part of writing a novel was, I might say it's writing the very first sentence - or the first sentence after writer's block has had its way with my mind.

I recently picked up a novel of mine that I had started to write over five years ago. At the time, I wrote about 30,000 words then stopped when I got a new idea for a different novel. This particular unfinished work sat unfinished for years. I often thought about it but for some reason, wasn't ready to pick it back up again.

Eventually, I did. I read through the plot, made some changes and I laid it all out, using my favorite "sticky note" method. But even after that, I had yet to type the first words that would come after where I'd left off years prior.

Strange as it may sound, writing those first words can be the scariest. It's starting over again. It's the first step in saying "I'm still dedicated to this book." It's setting up the possibility that I may never be able to finish the work for one reason or another.

Thankfully, with this certain book, I successfully started writing it again. I've gained 2,000 words and more is coming. After I finally got started again, I'm rediscovering the joy of the plot I thought of so long ago.

Sometimes when I start a book, I get the same feeling. I can have it all laid out perfectly and know exactly where I want the plot to go, but typing those first words... it's like free falling into an icy river - a thrill but once I hit, I've got to swim to survive.

The first sentence... maybe the hardest, but also the most thrilling.