There is nothing quite so daunting, at least to me, a new writer, as a blank page. I have my "road map" which tells me where I want my characters to go, but things keep changing on me. (Well, I guess I keep changing them, but that would make me responsible for my own actions, and where's the fun that?) My characters for my novel (a fantasy) keep wanting their names changed. What sounds perfectly good at the beginning, starts sounding too . . . trendy, or old-fashioned, or over-used.
Of course, it doesn't really matter what names I use now. I can always do a search and replace later. But then I'm back with that blank page again. This time it's the opening. Now, I have a bunch of scenes that I dashed off as I thought of them, but they need to be put together and fleshed out. I've gone through ten or 12 openings already. I'm thinking maybe I'll use "It was a dark and stormy night" just for grins.
Openings, too can be changed later. Most of the advice from established authors say to just get it down on paper (or in bytes) because you'll go back and edit it several times anyway. But, see, my OCD wants it done right the first time. Or the second. Or the third. Anyway, you get the idea.
Yeah, I'm just making excuses. You knew that already, though. Okee dokee, I'm going to go to my manuscript and use the dragon-sighting as the opener. Or maybe a unicorn. Hmm, then again, there's nothing like a good old-fashioned vampire. On the other hand, maybe a pack (herd? group?) of goblins . . .
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