The First Paragraph....

[mythrana.livejournal.com]

Does anyone else have trouble with the first paragraph?  I find that if I can get past that first paragraph I can write thousands of words.  The story just flows forever after that.  However at the start of each new chapter everything seems to falter again as it did with the first chapter.  I would love any suggestions anyone might have.  To me the first paragraph sets the stage for the entire story.

Strengths and Weaknesses

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

What do feel are your greatest strengths as a writer?

What do you feel are your greatest weaknesses?

How are you using your world?

[aeriedraconia.livejournal.com]

Is anyone writing a series or multiple books set in the same world? Or anyone creating an RPG campaign world?

Are you writing in a different setting from modern Earth? Or modern Earth?

Does anyone have trouble creating places like cities, towns or villages where the action in your story takes place? Have any trouble describing these places because you have never lived where your story is set, in Medieval Europe or in a SF setting with aliens and cool spacecraft?

I'm asking because I have an idea for a description/setting sort of exercise project for creating places that you will use a lot and that need to be full of life and colour. (I have a capital city that a lot of things take place in).