Hi Jeanna, My favorite all time first line is this; (and I apologize I can't remember the book, I do remember that the book did not live up to the opening sentance): "The last camel died at noon." You're right about how dead the board seems. It's too bad. I will have to check out the too books you just shared, those are great openings. Thanks Di

Right now I have nothing. No plot, no characters, no ideas. It's kind of scary. In fact, it's probably the first time in my life when I haven't had a novel idea in my head. But, on the other hand, I have a great deal of motivation and excitement. I'm on the road to getting started. I went to Starbucks today and just started writing. At first it was just about my current sadness. Then it went on to a list of all the things I want. Boy was that list long. But then it got really interesting. I latched on to a few men talking. I heard very little of what they were saying. The truth is I didn't want to hear much. Just a few words here and there. The only words I heard were, "insurance," "leadership," "six easy steps," and "I can teach you." Anyway, I was able to play with their characters and develop a bunch of "what if" ideas from them. It was fun. In fact so fun that I have decided to do it again tomorrow and the day after. I'm currently trying to figure out different places that I can go. I'm thinking a sports bar with my husband would be interesting. He can watch the game and I can watch the people. Right now I'm just playing with the idea of writing, but I do have a plan. I want to participate in the National Novel Writing Month, but the chosen month for that is November and November isn't really a great month for me. July is great (by the way, that is the original month). I will be out of school, the kids are going away to camp for a few days, and it's the first opportunity that I will have that isn't loaded with papers to grade and 4H events. So, in July I begin. I'm not holding it off until July, however. Rather I am preparing myself for a month of focused writing. I have next week off and am planning on using that week to set a practice writing schedule. I'm warming up my brain for the task ahead by writing a 10,000 word short story. Who cares if it's good. I can also use that prep time to do some research, create outlines, and gather ideas. Heck, if I can't help myself, I will start earlier. Until then, that is my plan. I just want to write. I'm excited to write. I haven't felt this good about it since, well, I can't remember the since, but I know I have felt this way before. I love to write, and I love the feeling it gives me. Anyone want to join me? I say we get this page a hopping. Jeanna

I'm not afraid of writing. Heck, I teach composition. I love to write. In fact, I tell my students if they see me sitting on the side of the road, don't stop. I'm just writing. What I am afraid of is the length of what I want to write. The thought of writing a novel is just so daunting. Even when I do try I easily get bored with what I am doing and quit after the first few chapters. Here I go talking myself out of it when I want to be boosting myself up. I can do this. I know I can. Thanks for the support. Jeanna

I spent the entire day doing nothing really interesting. Then I came upon this site. I've been a member of OH for over a year now, so the site isn't new to me, but this board is. Anyway, I've been sitting around brain dead all day long wondering what I am going to do with my time this summer--wondering what I could be doing today. I teach college composition, and today was my day off. There was so much I could have been doing. I just need to get to it. I've wanted to write a book my entire life, but I opted for teaching composition because I don't feel I have the motivation to be a writer. Stupid thing is, I have the motivation to do anything I want so what's with this writing thing? You ask what everybody is working on. Well, I'm working on getting started. It's kind of sad to think that I've wasted so much time trying to build the courage, motivation, and confidence to do this writing thing. I've spent years saying as soon as I can afford to take time off, as soon as the kids are older, as soon as I get a computer, as soon as I get my education, as soon as... Well, all those things are done. This will be the first summer that I don't have an as soon as, and I'm not going to make one either. Shoot. I've already got one. As soon as I come up with an idea. No seriously. I'm really thinking this one over. I'm working on getting started. Jeanna

The reason this board is dead is that we're all busy writing! Ellen 8-l