A lot of students get stuck on the first paragraph for so long that they run out of time for everything else. The opening feels like the most important part, so they labor over it endlessly - adjusting the first sentence, second-guessing the tone, trying to make it perfect before moving forward. The rest of the story never gets written.
The first paragraph does not have to come first
Most experienced writers know that the real opening of a piece only becomes clear after the rest of it exists. Writing the beginning last is not cheating - it is just more efficient. When you already know how the story ends, what the key turning point is, and what emotional note the piece carries, you can write an opening that actually fits. A placeholder like START HERE is enough to keep your document organized while you write the parts you already understand.
A scene-first method that works in practice
Start with whatever moment in your story you can see most clearly. Maybe that is the conflict in the middle, or the final image, or a specific line of dialogue you already know you want. Write that section first. Then write the next scene you can picture. Assemble the structure once the raw material exists.
Feliks, a student working on a short fiction piece, was stuck on his introduction for two weeks. His tutor suggested he skip it and write the climax scene instead. He finished the full draft in four days. The opening he eventually wrote was sharper because he understood the whole story by then.
Linear writing is one option, not a requirement.