I hope you all are having a fantastic summer! It’s blistering out here in California, so I’m hiding out at my desk today, checking items of the to-do list, and reminding myself how much we all need the sunshine.

We have another mailbag question for you. This one came in from Amrys and she says:

I’ve always wanted to write a book and never knew how to start one. I also wrote a couple of stories here and there but never felt confident with them so I would throw them away. Would you be able to tell me some tips and tricks to better my writing?

Thank you for asking, Amrys! If we unpack your question a little bit, it seems like you are asking about two separate issues.

First, you want to know how to get going on a book, right? And second, you want to know how to keep going even when you’re not confident in a project.

I’ll use this post to address your first question and I’ll point you to this post here to address your second question. I wrote it last month and it addresses staying motivated to finish a project. It’s exactly what you’re looking for and I hope it helps to know you’re not the only writer struggling with motivation this summer!

But back to that first issue, starting a book. How do we do it? How should you do it? And is there only one way?

In short, no there isn’t. There’s a variety of ways to start a story and so much depends on your story idea. How did it come to you? Is it a character you want to build or a fantasy world you’d like to explore? Maybe the idea came to you as a mystery that must be solved or a journey to be taken. Maybe you stumbled onto an old rickety house and you’d like to tell a story about it.

My suggestion is to start with what intrigues you most about the idea. Get out a piece of paper and jot down a few things to guide you: maybe the name of a few characters, the setting you plan to start your story in, and what you think should happen in the first scene.

Then set a timer for twenty minutes or so and just write. Don’t worry about stopping to correct yourself, just tell yourself what’s going on in the scene. If setting a timer freaks you out, don’t. Just write. When you finish the scene, move on to the next scene. Stop whenever you need to and jot down some notes to guide your next writing stretch and then go for it.

The first draft of any story is most always garbage. No one wants to hear that, but first drafts exist so you can tell yourself the story. Second, third, and fourth drafts are when things start to shine up.

So don’t worry about perfection. Tell yourself an interesting story. Dream big. Kindle your love for the characters and the world and discover the story as you write. Get creative. Create tension and cause problems.

Oh, yes! That’s what we should talk about. The problem. Every story needs a big one. The story problem is what will drive your plot from beginning to end. If you don’t have a problem early on, you’ll give up on this story because there won’t be a reason to continue.

At some point in the early stages of your story you need to establish–to yourself and to the reader–just what the problem is. Why is your main character doing what they’re doing and why should the reader care?

In my experience, most story ideas come to us as a character or a world but no major problem. It takes a bit of thinking to come up with a solid story problem. Some trial and error. And yes, commitment.

Regardless of how your story idea came to you, I suggest spending a brainstorming session or two determining just what the problem is that will guide you from beginning to end.

If you can pinpoint that, you’re well on your way to a good start. And if you’re looking for more tips on starting a story, check out our Most Popular Posts page. There’s a section entirely devoted to Story Beginnings.

How about you, friends? Do you have any tips or tricks for starting a story? What works for you?

Shannon Dittemore is an author and speaker. Her books include the Angel Eyes trilogy, a supernatural foray into the realm of angels and demons, as well as the fantastical adventure novel Winter, White and Wicked. Its sequel, Rebel, Brave and Brutal is due out January 10, 2023.

Shannon’s stories feature strong female leads grappling with fear and faith as they venture into the wilds of the unknown. She’s often wondered if she’s writing her own quest for bravery again and again.

It’s a choice she values highly. Bravery. And she’s never more inspired than when young people ball up their fist and punch fear in the face.

To that end, Shannon takes great joy in working with young writers, both in person and online at Go Teen Writers, an instructional blog recognized by Writer’s Digest four years running as a “101 Best Websites for Writers” selection.

For more about Shannon and her books, please visit her website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.