10 Tips To Blast Past Your Blank Page

The blank page can be one of the most intimidating things a writer faces. If you have a drawerful of pristine notebooks, you know exactly what I mean.

But why?

Yes, the blank page can mean limitless possibilities, success, and a bright, sunny future. It can also mean mistakes, missed opportunities, and judgement.

“The hardest thing about writing, for me, is facing the blank page.” —Octavia Spencer

All Writers Get It

First, realize this is a universal fear. You are not alone in it, and it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your process. Fear of a blank page may present like anxiety, resistance, distracted thinking, or a general “stuckness”.

Artists talk about it all the time when faced with a new canvas or sketchbook. It hits some writers at the start of a new book, scene, or chapter.

The fear of a blank page often hits hardest when the stakes are high, like when emailing a colleague for help. Or when writing a personal note on a retirement or bereavement card.

I often confront it when sitting down to write my weekly blog post (today included!).

Tips to Best the Blank Page

Since fear of the blank page is a common problem, people have discovered tools and hacks to move past anxiety and into creativity.

1. Get Messy

Because the blank page is pristine, one way to combat your fear of it is to mar it.

Write a silly sentence and “doodle” with your words. Pull out a sheet of paper and brainstorm. Try freewriting as an exercise.

A habit I got into during NaNoWriMo was to stop my writing session near the end of a chapter or scene. Sometimes, I even stopped mid-sentence.

The itch to finish the thought, sentence, scene, or chapter got me into the flow much faster during my next writing session.

2. Take the Pressure Off

For some of us, the likelihood of the blank page showing up increases when we have a deadline.

If you find a looming deadline overwhelming, try to change it. That might mean asking your editor for more time, or pushing back a preorder’s publication date.

When the deadline isn’t something I can avoid, I try to work in short bursts. Somehow, knowing I only have 15 minutes to work at a time gets me revved up and I get more done than if I stared at my screen for an hour.

3. Think Positive

One reason the blank page is intimidating is because we anticipate failure.

We think, “What if this [book/story/article] isn’t [meaningful/memorable/useful]?”

But allowing yourself to wallow in those fears won’t help get the words flowing. Instead, write the same piece just for yourself.

Imagine no one will ever see your words even though it is the best thing you’ll ever write.

4. Allow Failure to be an Option

When I get stuck with a blank page, I remind myself it’s okay if the blog post isn’t great. It helps me to remember the post is only a part of my overall body of work. If the current post isn’t as useful as another piece of content I’ve provided, so be it.

No one book, story, or article will please everybody, so do the best you can in that moment and give yourself grace. When you accept imperfection and embrace the writer you are today, you can be a better writer tomorrow.

5. Don’t Start at the Beginning

Sometimes we know what we want to say, but we don’t know how to start.

Give yourself permission to start in the middle, or write your ending or conclusion first. This can let you back into the beginning, taking the pressure off.

Don’t worry about writing out of order. You can fix it later!

6. Know Yourself

In a perfect world, the words would flow every time we sit down to write. But since that’s not the case for most of us, support your writing by setting yourself up for success.

Everyone’s writing process is unique. Some people need external motivators (think: deadlines or accountability partners) while others feel crushed by them.

Some writers need quiet, while others crave noise. There are writers who can’t write without time to think, plot, or outline. Others require the freedom to explore and discover as they go.

Whatever your process is, setting yourself up for success can help reduce how frequently you have to combat the blank page.

7. Play with Prompts and Templates

Sometimes it helps to eliminate the possibilities a blank page offers. One way to do this is by using a prompt.

Creative writing prompts come in a variety of mediums. These can range from story prompt generators, to questions posed on social media, to story decks and dice. There are journaling prompts, prompts for memoir writers, and story worksheets that can help you define what you want to say.

Like prompts, templates are a useful tool. Whether you writing a query letter, condolence card, or blog post, look at similar media. When you find examples that resonate with you, make a template from them to jumpstart your own project.

8. Find Coaching, Books, Blogs, and Other Resources

Talking to a coach is a great way to get into the specifics of what triggers your fear of a blank page.

If working with a coach is out of your budget, you may get some relief by talking to members of your writing community. Your critique partners or writing group may have useful advice for you, too.

For the DIY folks, there are a lot of great resources to help combat your fear of a blank page. Two of my favorite books for reminding me to be courageous in my writing are Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and Fearless Writing by William Kenower (affiliate links). I’ve read both cover to cover!

Becca Syme, the CliftonStrengths for Writers guru, put out a video I found super useful. She’s a coach too, so if you like her style, check out her website and Patreon.

 

9. Change it Up

When the cursor stubbornly refuses to move, switch to pen and paper. If that doesn’t work, try a voice-to-text app on your computer or phone.

You might also try writing outside, at a coffee shop, or in the library.

10. There’s always another blank page.

Give yourself permission to play on this page because another one is waiting for you! When you turn work to play, you may reframe the blank page as the catalyst for your next piece of writing. Above all, don’t let your fear of a blank page stop you from writing.

How have you conquered your fear of the blank page?

Header Photo by Ashley West Edwards on Unsplash