The Dreaded Blank Page

It’s time again to write something new. You pull up a new document in WORD, and there it is – the dreaded blank page. There are times you gleefully look at that page and dive into writing because you have had the mother of all ideas and can’t wait to write about it. However at other times, you stare at the blank page and have no idea what to put on it, or you may have an idea but don’t know where to start. When that happens what do you do?

Well here are some helpful hints:

1. Brainstorm – now you can do this many ways; make lists, make a pro/con list, or just randomly write ideas. Your lists can focus on the plot, the characters, or even the setting. The idea is to get down as many ideas as you can.
2. Outline what you want to write.
3. Mindmap an idea. It is similar to brainstorming but in a more methodical way. (Here’s a bit of a tutorial on Mind mapping < http://www.mindmapping.com/ > )
4. Do a bit of research on the subject about which you are thinking.

Then there is the ‘seat of the pants’ way of dealing with a blank page – just start writing what’s on your mind. Once you have some words down on the page, you will be surprised how a story begins to form. You can always go back and edit away until the story has a beginning, a conflict, and an end. Or you can write a poem, like this:

Butterfly Ideas by Marie Staight

Thoughts like leaves float through my mind

Swinging down to the very depths

They soon are whisked away with the wind,

Leaving only flecks

That break apart and flutter away like butterflies

I reach out to catch

But they morph into lies.

 

I so want to catch those fellows

But they skitter away

Butterfly ideas of blue and yellow

I do not know why on this day

They do not land on my paper mellow

A big net I need to catch so they will stay.

 

Comments are welcome!