It’s not enough to start with a topic sentence – you need to brainstorm a little farther – Start with a topic, then brainstorm topics around that – so that you have ideas about how to proceed.

For instance – you write “Reading is exciting”

And then you’re paralyzed…

But if you start with brainstorming notes like this, you might be more able to proceed:

“reading is exciting”

-learning about culture

-learning about geography/locations

-using my imagination

-learning new vocabulary

etc…

good luck!

Oh, this is a good one…my writing professor, published author Lee Abbot taught me this — look around in your immediate environment and pick something out (the fridge, the floor, the dvd) anything and then imagine and write everything you can possibly think about that thing. Don’t stop there — write what you hear when you first choose that thing. Were there any strange smells that bothered you or made you choose that thing. Was your mother baking brownies when your thoughts immediately rummaged on the rusted pan that she’d been asking you to throw away but you could never find the time ….try every writing exercise you can and just play with them all. You will be amazed what your mind is waiting to unleash on the universe…

Go to writersdigest.com and subscribe to their book club and the magazine…great resource for any writer worth their salt…

Well, good luck and HAPPY WRITING…and remember, a writer, writes ALWAYS…