1. Sitting down at the computer and finally being able to spit out a new story is like finding another person on a desertered island. You're surprised, but you always new someone was there.
2. When I write a news-type report or research paper I usually skip the introduction and go straight to the main part. I like to start with quotations and then put them in a logical order. Then I add transitions in between qutations to make them flow better. Usually by this point I know where I'm going with my thoughts. At this point, most likely after changing things around, I write my introduction and conclusion. The most challenging part for me is finishing the story with an interesting conclusion. Editing is my favorite part (if I remember to do so), and my first attempt at a paper usually becomes marked up in multiple colors that mean different things. This goes on until I'm completely sick of my paper, or I run out of time.
