Writing with Spreadsheets

 I write my story as I go. I don’t normally layout what is happening in each scene however I will occasionally write something I want to happen at some point during the story. I love using spreadsheets for an issue I do have. I forget my characters' names. Not that it doesn’t fit them, I forget people's names in real life, especially if I hear it once. I have a difficult time remembering names and if I associate it with something, I won’t remember the name. I remember what I associated it with and that’s all. So that technique doesn’t help me.

When I put a character's name in the spreadsheet, I’ll include any relevant information about that character. Their birthday, hair color, eye color, skin tone or texture, who they are friends or related to, where they work, special talents, quirks, allergies, where they were born and raised.

A spreadsheet simply makes this easier to do, especially if I need to look up something I put it in search and it will pop up. I keep a spreadsheet for each book unless it happens to be a series then all of them end up on one which helps me from using a name multiple times for various characters even if they are not a lead.

Trouble with writing

The most common issue of writing that I hear from everyone is starting the first chapter. Whether it's writing an article, novel, report, or something else. It's a matter of starting that first sentence. We know it needs something to catch someone's attention, especially if we want to keep them hooked or interested in reading further. Unfortunately, not every portion of a book is going to be action-packed and reports never are unless you are giving a memorable speech.

When starting your first sentence in the story, before writing anything. I want you to picture the setting, picture your scene, and what your surroundings look like. This doesn't have to be where you start your story but getting a physical image in your mind can help figure out where you want to start. What are your characters doing? Where do you want your readers to enter the story, after it already started in the middle? Mix it up a little and have it start not quite at the end, possibly a, “maybe I should explain how we wound up in this situation” type beginning. Is there something your reader needs to know before reading the story? Perhaps, skip the start and delve right into the middle of the story. I’ve had several important scenes, determined where they needed to happen, and pieced them together and the beginning became clearer what I needed to write.

If you’re still stumped, I love reading a favorite book or any book by one of my favorite authors. I like how Stephen King starts each of his books. Anne Rice is another favorite of mine. Go to your local library and stand in the fiction section or non-fiction if that is what you happen to be writing. Pick up random books and read the first three sentences. After reading each one, ask yourself what it's saying. Ask if it has your attention, if not how would you reword their beginning to catch your attention. Sometimes reading someone else’s writing can be easier to change than your own.

If you’re still stumped, it could be you are putting too much pressure on yourself. Some people need to sit and write for so many hours a day while others could write something, stop for a year and pick back up where they left off. If you have the itch to write but not quite the story you’re working on. Try a writing exercise. Pick an object near you and describe it in writing. After you write it, see how you started the description.