Fear of the Blank Page be Gone!

Writers! Banish Fear of the Blank Page.

Suffering from writer’s block? Afraid of the blank page, virtual or real?

Let’s figure that out, and get past it.

1) Don’t get into an arm-wrestling contest with your story. Did it take a turn that led you down a dicey, unfamiliar alley? Celebrate! Yes, that creates extra work. You’ll probably have to go back and tweak. But your book now has a life of its own. That’s good news.

2) Bogged down in research? That happens if you’re trying to making a story perfect, especially if it’s set in a particular time in history. It also happens if you just plain get interested and don’t want to let the research go.

Easy to fix. Remember, THIS IS FICTION! You can fudge, you can make life up, you can blow up a world and start over. Rejoice!

If you’re in love with your research materials, consider these two alternatives: One is that you’re stalling because the gaping maw of The Blank Page is waiting for you, and it’s just in the next room. Put that research book down, put your fanny in the chair, and get going. Your other alternative is simply to put the research aside, and come back to it when you have finished your book. Your choice.

3) Go easy on yourself. Give yourself a break. Whatever you’re writing is not going to be perfect coming out of the gate. Write twenty pages of shit, rip off the band-aid, and press ‘Delete’. That didn’t hurt so much, did it? It might even be liberating.

4) Get into a party mood. Sit down in front of your computer. Close your eyes. Gather your rowdiest characters. Toss in a few wallflowers and villains to balance the mix. Now sit back and listen to them talk, rant, and cry. Watch them dance, get sick in the corner, and fall in love. (Oh, jeeze, there goes Aunt Esther’s vase!)

5) Write it all down. You can clean up the party mess and get your house in order later. Given some chaos, your characters will show themselves to you. You’ll be horrified, spellbound, and happy. Adios, blank page!

Our ancestors didn’t fuss and fume over perfection. Those storytellers told their tales and fine-tuned them over time. They are your family – use their example.

Here’s the corker. We don’t believe in writer’s block. We don’t believe in fear of the virtual page. We do believe in fear. Bottom line? It’s fear that keeps us from writing.

Banish fear. It has no power at your desk. Be your most essential self, and let her rip!

Please follow and like us: