Write the Exciting Parts First: How “Nonlinear Writing” Builds Real Momentum

Writers are often told to “start at the beginning.”
Start with Chapter One.
Start with the introduction.
Start where the story starts.

But here is something every seasoned author eventually learns:
the place you’re supposed to start is rarely the place where momentum begins.

Momentum begins with energy.
Energy comes from excitement.
And excitement usually lives somewhere far beyond page one.

This is why writing out of order — also called nonlinear writing — is one of the most powerful tools a writer can use. Not just for productivity, but for creativity, confidence, and finishing the book you keep avoiding because the beginning feels too overwhelming.

Let’s break down why writing the scenes you’re excited about (even if they sit in the middle or at the end of your book) can transform your entire process.

1. Creativity Does Not Happen in a Straight Line

The writing brain does not think in order.
It jumps.
It connects.
It wanders.
It sparks at unexpected moments.

Trying to force your creativity into a straight line slows it down.
Nonlinear writing, on the other hand, aligns with how ideas naturally appear.

Maybe you suddenly envision the perfect ending.
Maybe a conversation between two characters hits you out of nowhere.
Maybe you know exactly what happens at the turning point.

These moments are gifts.
Capturing them when they strike fuels momentum and prevents stagnation.

2. Writing the Fun Parts Builds Confidence Fast

Let’s be honest.
There are scenes writers cannot wait to write:

• the dramatic confrontation
• the romantic moment
• the twist reveal
• the heartbreaking goodbye
• the triumphant ending

When you start with these emotionally charged scenes, your confidence grows.
You remember why you love this story.
You feel connected to your characters.
You experience creative momentum rather than dread.

Confidence is a writer’s superpower.
The scenes you are excited about help you access it quickly.

3. It Makes Finishing the Draft Easier

Many writers get stuck at the beginning of their manuscript.
Why?
Because beginnings have pressure attached to them.

Writing out of order removes that pressure entirely.

If you write all the scenes you’re excited about first, you create:

• anchor points in your story
• clarity about where the plot is going
• emotional spikes you can build toward
• a roadmap that makes filling gaps easier

It is much simpler to write the connecting pieces than to force yourself to write from an empty starting point.

4. Nonlinear Writing Helps You Understand the Heart of Your Story

When you skip to the scenes that matter most to you, you reveal something important:

These moments are the heart of your book.

The scenes you eagerly write are often the ones that define:

• your theme
• your character arc
• your emotional stakes
• your message

Once you write the heart, every other chapter naturally orients itself around it.

5. You Can Revise the Structure Later — Momentum Happens Now

Some writers worry that writing out of order will make a mess.
But here’s the truth:

Drafting is discovery.
Revising is structure.

You can always rearrange chapters later.
You can always fill in the blanks.
But you cannot revise a blank page.

Momentum first. Structure second.

That is how professional authors finish books efficiently and consistently.

6. Nonlinear Writing Overcomes Creative Resistance

Resistance forms when your brain anticipates difficulty.
But writing the parts you love eliminates that friction entirely.

Suddenly, writing feels:

• doable
• enjoyable
• rewarding
• energizing

This creates a positive feedback loop.
You sit down more often because the task feels inviting rather than heavy.

Your brain is more willing.
Your creativity is more generous.
Your momentum builds naturally.

How to Use This Method in Your Process

1. Make a list of scenes you’re excited to write.

Big or small — anything with energy.

2. Choose one and write it now.

Not later. Not “after the beginning.”
Now.

3. Don’t worry about where it goes.

Just write the moment.

4. Save the file separately if needed.

Title it something simple like “Chapter — Romance Scene” or “Ending Draft.”

5. Build your draft around these scenes.

They become emotional pillars that guide your story structure.

The Takeaway

Writing does not have to happen in perfect order.
Creativity rarely does.

Momentum comes from excitement.
Excitement leads to action.
Action leads to progress.
Progress leads to finishing the book.

So this week — and maybe every week from now on — give yourself permission to:

Start where the spark is.
Write the part that feels alive.
Let the energy guide you forward.

Your story will thank you for it.
And so will your momentum.