That First Page

So here you are -- sitting in front of your computer, staring at the white screen of your word processor/screenplay writing software. You have a brilliant idea and you just can’t wait till you express it in form of a novel or a screenplay. You've turned off the TV, switched off the phone, asked the kids, your spouse and your friends that you won’t be available for the next few hours. Everything is set and you are ready to go.

Ten-minutes later...

You’re still staring at the blank page of your software. The idea is still there but you are not sure how to put it in words. You think harder.

Twenty-minutes later...

You’re not looking at the screen anymore.  Your ears pick up all the sounds outside the room. You suddenly remember that the most important game of the season will be on TV in two hours. Oh, and you need to fix the kid’s bike.  The idea is still there but you just can’t figure out how to start.

Thirty-minutes later...

You’re not in your seat anymore. You stretch, open the curtains and look outside. Isn’t it a lovely evening? Wait! Isn’t today the last day to use those discount coupons at your favourite eating joint? You check the watch. There is still time and you don’t want to waste the coupons.

You take one last look at the computer. Oh well, you can’t do anything till you find out how to start that first page. Right now, you can only visualize an electrifying encounter between your protagonist and her arch-rival. But that is not the beginning of the story.

With a sigh, you walk towards the door.

WAIT! STOP!

Go back to your seat. Sit tight and write down that encounter. Yes, it is not the beginning of your story. Yes, you may delete it when you write your next draft. But right now, it is THE most important piece of your work. Write it down now!

Because if you walk out of the room now, you will never ever finish your dream novel/screenplay.