Tā gòusī le hěn jiǔ, zhōngyú dòngbǐ xiě zhè bù xiǎoshuō.
After pondering for a long time, he finally put pen to paper and started writing this novel.
Tips
usage
动笔 specifically means the act of beginning to write or draw - the moment you pick up the pen. It emphasizes the start of the action, similar to 开始写作 but more vivid and idiomatic.
