Staring at a blank page for hours: Help me learn how to start an essay without panicking

[EdwardPhil]

I'm a freshman and I swear the hardest part of writing is just getting started. I'll sit down with my laptop, open a document, and then just... stare. Sometimes for an hour. The cursor blinks at me like it's judging my existence. I know what I want to say, but I don't know how to say it first.

Does anyone have practical tips for how to start an essay without the existential dread? I've heard some people write the introduction last, which seems backwards but maybe it works? Would love to hear what actually helps real students get past that initial block.

 

[Muller]

Oh, the blinking cursor of judgment—I know it well Sophomore here, and what saved me was writing the worst possible first sentence on purpose. Like, genuinely terrible. "This essay is about stuff that happened." Once something exists on the page, perfectionism loses its grip and I can actually edit.

Also—yes, write the intro last! How can you introduce an argument you haven't made yet? Start with body paragraphs, then summarize. Game-changer.