A workshop in Portland changed how I start stories | Creative Writing Prompts

Andrew Jenkins · 2026-04-04T14:05:04.463937+00:00

I was at a free writing workshop at Powell's Books last month, and the leader made us write the first line of a story ten different ways. The seventh one, about a key hidden in a frozen pie, just clicked for me. Now I always try at least five openings before picking one. Anyone else have a trick for getting past that blank page?

taylorhunt6mo ago

Try writing the opening from the villain's point of view first, it cuts the pressure to sound perfect.

3

jordanh316mo ago

Wait, Powell's still does free workshops?

2

matthew8646mo ago

That trick about writing the first line ten different ways is solid. I do something similar where I set a timer for two minutes and just vomit out the worst possible openings on purpose. Getting the pressure off by making them intentionally bad lets me find a real starting point in the mess.

1