A Creative Journal

The Blank Page

by Heather Goldsmith on October 20th, 2007

Sometimes I think for writers, or even journal writers, the terror of the blank page can become all consuming. There’s the initial reaction; can I write something worth saying? Then once you’ve begun there’s the thought that anything you’ve written is not good enough. This is one reason I recommend getting over that blank page fear by just marking the page. It doesn’t need to be a word. Just make a few lines, doodles, sketch something close by, or simply scribble. Really, once you’ve made that mark, any words you write can only be an improvement.

Beginning can be difficult, though. If you’re a regular reader of this blog you’ll know there should be enough ideas here to keep you writing for ages. But no one can force you to move your hand across the page, to form the words, to let loose the torrent of expression stalled in your mind. You need to make a motion to start. Scrawl if you need to. Just get something down on the page. I’ve never found it’s the lack of ideas that stops the writing happening.

I saw the movie Stardust today. Later while researching the author of the original book, Stardust, I came across this article written by Neil Gaiman. I love what he had to say about writing not really being about the ideas. There are often too many to ever use. He feels the writing part is the struggle.

In your journal try to leave out the idea your writing has to be of a particular standard or that you need to have something worthy to write. Just write something and take on that fear of the blank page.

Heather
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