| p>Whether you are a seasoned writer or a | | | | catalogue, a magazine - and just write one |
| novice - a lot of people have trouble trying to | | | | paragraph of what you see. How is the |
| figure out where to start on their manuscript. | | | | photograph speaking to you? What's the story? |
| Even if you have 70 books under your belt, the | | | | The paragraph you write could be fleshed out into |
| most intimidating image is a blank white Microsoft | | | | several chapters. It could be the start of your |
| Word page. You squirm in your chair, get up and | | | | manuscript. |
| pet the cat, go phone a friend, watch TV, and | | | | Looking at yourself, your environment, and your |
| basically do everything to avoid that big blank | | | | passions for ideas. What are some things that |
| page. | | | | have happened to you that you can help inspire |
| It took Michelangelo from 1508 to 1512 to paint | | | | others? A lot of people might write about |
| the Sistine Chapel. It isn't really uncommon for a | | | | challenges, whether it's cancer or some other |
| manuscript to take that long, either. It depends on | | | | disease. If you were to develop diabetes |
| where you are at in your life. | | | | overnight, would you want to read a book by |
| If you haven't begun yet and it's been in the back | | | | someone who was going through the same thing? |
| of your mind for a while now; if you've started it | | | | Would you want to learn some tips from them as |
| and haven't gotten around to finishing; if you're | | | | they coped with it? Think about other types of |
| just one chapter away - forget about it. Don't | | | | experiences or it could be about dumb things kids |
| beat yourself up. When you are ready, wild | | | | do, pet tricks, blind dates. |
| horses will not stop you. That manuscript will take | | | | But the one thing you need to also keep in mind |
| on a life of its own once your mind and body are | | | | when you are developing a writing angle is: why |
| so ready, you can't think of doing anything else | | | | would someone read your story? |
| until you finish it. But sometimes, a little thing, a | | | | A lot of times, just getting started is half the |
| thought, a TV show, a picture will spur that | | | | battle. Hopefully these tips will tweak your |
| thought and off you go. | | | | thoughts and your creativity and get you thinking |
| When it comes to developing the manuscript, | | | | about what you have going on in your own life |
| looking at a picture can compel you to write a | | | | that you can write about. |
| fictional story. Pick any picture - online, out of a | | | | |