http://mffitzgerald.com/wordpress/?p=365 An occasional journal of ideas and work by Michael Fitzgerald Sun, 17 May 2026 01:07:55 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 http://mffitzgerald.com/wordpress/?p=365#comment-300539 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:59:54 +0000 http://mffitzgerald.com/wordpress/?p=365#comment-300539 Hi, Michael. As you know, I write nonfiction. But, in a sort of "reverse inverted pyramid," my problem is with beginnings ... and middles ... and all the parts in between the beginnings and middles. But, like this post, it's all about the perfect ending. Hi, Michael. As you know, I write nonfiction. But, in a sort of “reverse inverted pyramid,” my problem is with beginnings … and middles … and all the parts in between the beginnings and middles. But, like this post, it’s all about the perfect ending.

]]> http://mffitzgerald.com/wordpress/?p=365#comment-300400 Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:33:35 +0000 http://mffitzgerald.com/wordpress/?p=365#comment-300400 "I don’t even know what the second sentence is going to be.” What about the first sentence!? Just like cleaning the house, just getting started is more than half the battle. As a former news writer, I still tend to start with sentences that sound like headlines and then let everything cascade from there. Of course, fiction requires a little more elegance, which is exactly why I'm not a good fiction writer! I do think process is important. For example, in the Lit Club I supervise at my kids' school, I constantly encourage the young writers to work on their process. Outlines, setting descriptions, and character development are important -- if for no other reason than to help inspire their creativity. Of course, there're also those times when it's important to just let it go and not let process stand in the way of inspired writing. “I don’t even know what the second sentence is going to be.” What about the first sentence!? Just like cleaning the house, just getting started is more than half the battle. As a former news writer, I still tend to start with sentences that sound like headlines and then let everything cascade from there. Of course, fiction requires a little more elegance, which is exactly why I’m not a good fiction writer! I do think process is important. For example, in the Lit Club I supervise at my kids’ school, I constantly encourage the young writers to work on their process. Outlines, setting descriptions, and character development are important — if for no other reason than to help inspire their creativity. Of course, there’re also those times when it’s important to just let it go and not let process stand in the way of inspired writing.

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