A Blank Page

I didn’t get much writing in this week, so nothing new to report on that front. However, I wanted to touch base on The Blank Page and how that doesn’t have to be scary for authors.

I used to get upset at the blank page, when it felt as if no matter what I did, I could not make a story magically appear. But as time has passed since I published my first book, I’ve come to realize that many things go into a blank page: perhaps I’m working on the wrong story, or that idea that’s in my mind either isn’t ready to be written (so I take a lot of notes), or I’m not starting in the right place. Normally, I write from the beginning to the end. But I’ve had books where I started in the middle, or even wrote the entire last quarter of the book. One book kept jumping between beginning and ending scenes, leaving the entire middle- the meat of the book- for last. At times, if the mood hasn’t been set (candles, music…etc), the words won’t flow.

So don’t be discouraged by the blank page. Stop for a moment, take a step back and take a deep breath, and ask yourself what you and the story need. What scene or character is jumping out at you the most? Write that. A character wants you to write their bio sheet before giving you any other information about the story? Write that. You want to change how your desk is set up or want to write in a different location? Do that. You want to start writing long hand, in the notebook? Grab a pen or pencil, get comfy, and start writing.

Even if you are on a deadline, give yourself some grace, and ask those questions. Otherwise that blank screen will drive you mad.