Do you feel writing the first sentence is the hardest part of writing?

If you know what you want to write about, don't worry about the first sentence. Write ANY sentence, whether it's from the beginning, middle, or end. Once you've gotten started, you can go back and fill in whatever's missing any time you want. Sometimes, also, the first sentence is a lot easier to write if you know the last one.

I am usually writing about something I've decided to or something I have been assigned to so the first few sentences are easy. It's building something to the required length that is often the challenge.

I guess the best thing to do, when writer's block fazes you, is to "just do it." Just kick yourself in the butt and get to write what you want to say, just like talking. :) But if that doesn't work, here are a few suggestions: 1) Get employed by a fast-paced, tight-deadline company that makes you work on moderately long articles in such a short amount of time. That's what trained me to be able to churn out a 292-word article in just a few seconds short of 10 minutes. :D 2) Make an outline. If the topic is on bears, pick three things that are interesting on bears. Then these main points will be the meat of your article. Understand that each coherent article has three main parts: Introduction, Body and Conclusion. The introduction and conclusion are basically just summaries or catchy introductions or "exit lines" to your article. The meat/details, are contained in the body. An introduction should catch the interest of the reader, but give a teaser to what is in store in the article. Then the points you liked about your topic could go in the body: dedicate 1-2 paragraphs per topic. Then wrap up your article with a memory-imprinting conclusion. THAT is good for a 300 to 500 word article, as each paragraph is good for around 100 words. :) 3) Get a word processor that displays the word count. Being able to understand how long your article is helps you run to your goal with more inspiration. A standard blog should have 250 to 300 words, at the very least, to be noted as "worthy" by the search engine spiders. A human being can take reading an article from 300 to 500 words on average. Once your writing hits that mark, you're made! You don't need to strive for a thousand-word magnum opus, when you can hit what you need with only 300 to 500 words. ;) 4) Develop a keen, observant eye. When you are on the lookout for something interesting, this would fuel your imagination and help you have that cookie jar of inspiration for things to write about. :) 5) An energy drink does wonders for your concentration. Yup, I'm an energy drink addict, and I am unabashed in my love for the stuff. This is because, like nicotine, this helps a writer focus, without the nasty lung cancer. Just stick to one dose a day though. I recently saw, on an energy drink can itself, that only one can a day is recommended. Eeek. Drink moderately. Hekhek. So, hope my list of advice helps ya! If all else fails, kick yer busy butt and "just do it!" :D

No, I don't think the first sentence is the hardest part. I think it can be one of the trickiest bits, but not the hardest. The first sentence doesn't usually give me terrible trouble. I usually start it off with something to set the tone for the whole book and go from there. Normally this means something funny (to me, I have a morbid sense of humor), or dark, or emotional...and that's it. I just gotta feel inspired, as I often do feel, when I write.

Not knowing what really to say all the time and what to start with can be mind boggling and them sometimes it just comes jumping right out of you. I do believe also that when you have the first sentenced done everything else just comes natural and right out from under neath of you. I really do enjoy writing articles and of course here on mylot and am always looking for another thing to say.

Lol, I guess I beg to differ. In fact, for me, I find writing the introductions the easiest; specially if the intro is somewhat off-topic. You see, I love bragging on n on... And many of my pals have acknowledged that, thankfully!!

I mostly write fiction, and I don't have too much trouble starting stories, the hard part is the "plot" or twist that makes the story and I pretty much have to work that out before the first sentance goes on the paper.

Definitely the first few sentences of an article, story or whatever else you are writing is the hardest. You want to make sure that you are not only getting across what you are going to be writing about, but that you immediately grab the reader's attention. If you do not manage to get reader's attention within the first few sentences, they will not finish reading whatever you have written. Once I have written those first few sentences and feel that they are the best that they can be, I have little or no trouble at all completing what I am writing.

I think so! Because I believe that staring something is very hard! So after the writing the first sentence of your article, for sure everything would be a bliss - I HOPE! Happy MyLotting!

Oh how right you are ........... i agree it is the hardest part of the entire saga. Many a times I feel that I have the idea but to pen it down becomes so difficult. And inevitably the first line holds the key .... when it has be constructed properly and not to ignore a few more lines jotted the flow builds up and going gets easy. From here till the just before conclusion is a cake walk. Some jitters come back when I start summarizing the whole stuff but relatively easy as compared to the first line I would say. And that's how it ends nice and fine and I am also happy by that time. Good thought.

In writing a sentence for me it is a hardest part because i need to think the right term that really suit to my sentence.

First of everything is really the hardest part not only on writing. overcoming the pressure of doing the first move or thinking the first words to write is very fulfilling for everything that follows will be very easy for sure.

im not that much of a WRITER.. i blog, yes, write poems, short stories... it depends on how i feel and what to write. sometimes that first sentence is so hard and when it happens i just stop and do something else. the ending too sometimes is just too hard for me. other times it just comes out so easily... i have a lot of unfinished "articles" because i dont know how to end it... lol

When I find it difficult for a first sentence, I do a 'spider diagram' of everything I want to say connected to the subject. Put a subject word in the center of a page and circle it. then branch out with all things that come to mind. You'll find that you not only have a logical outline for the subject matter but whether you're for or against. I sometimes do this for complaint letters as well as articles and stories.

Procrastination seems to be the biggest problem for me. Once started I can keep going to the end. I belong to Helium, but I haven't been back for a while. The idea of assignments appeals to me. I haven't looked into Associated Content yet, but I plan to.

hi ocean zealot! i dunno, many times i can get to writing the first paragraph then i have a hard time connecting it to the rest of the story hehe...these are the times when i get a writer's block. i guess yeah, most of the time, if i get to write the first part then the rest becomes easy. but it is not always for me. then of course, there is also providing with a good, powerful ending to a story. it really depends i guess with what you are writing. take care and God bless you! happy mylotting! :D

I don't find it difficult to start writing because I always have an idea, or a plan, or some notes to work from. I write my first draft quickly and the words flow out, then I spend time editing it, revising and reworking until I feel I have produced a good enough version to submit. I don't find any part of writing difficult. There are days when I feel it is useless to try to write much and other days I'm in a productive mood and can achieve much more.

Well compared to speaking, I'd rather say that writing for me is much easier. Yes, I have encountered that difficulty many times. Even now,I always find it difficult not to start my statements with "well". LOL Sometimes, I already have a starting line in mind after a topic has been given. And after writing that line, the rest just flows easily and freely.

Depends on what kind of writing you are talking about. Responding to the discussion thread in mylot is very easy, no need to think at all, just write and post. Starting a discussion is a bit tougher. Writing article with a well-defined title such as "how do you" is quite easy, just copy the title and start writing. But certain articles are very hard to find the opening sentence. Especially those academic courseworks, since you know that the lecturer will mark on the introduction.

actually.........hehehe