How to start a story?

First, a story always starts in your head. A light that goes on, a noise that gets louder and louder, a spotty thought. Grab hold of that and put it on paper. Always, however briefly, put it on paper.

Next, there are a number of things you can do before writing:

• Write out which characters you need to give your protagonist relationships and interaction. This helps with forming the initial conversations you will have with your main character.
  

• You can also start with an inspiration board of all the locations, this way you can see more clearly in front of you the journey your character will take.
  

• You can also write out the plot. This can sometimes be very intensive and cause you to get stuck in your story, but a clear structure of your book will help you get on track faster.

Once you have worked out these three points (but even if you haven't) you can start writing. Sometimes one starts in the middle of the book, at a conversation they are most interested in or most characteristic of the main character. Let's call this moment in the book ‘the core’. You can also write towards this moment, in which case it is actually a plot.

I like to start at the beginning. That way I get to know the characters, know their background before I get to the key moments and read along with the reader. If you find it difficult to start your book - I still get hung up on the very first sentence sometimes - write out the points of the chapter. You can develop the points further and further until you can connect them. This helps me a lot when I write out my chapters.

As a novice writer, you need to gain experience. Be confident and don't give up. Nothing has to be perfect the first time, just write and write. Write and rewrite, but above all continue what you are doing and enjoy it.