Admit it. There are few things as intimidating as the blinding white of a blank page.
It makes no difference if it’s an empty sheet lying on your desk, or a blank screen aiming between your eyes. Defeating “nothing” by subjecting it to “something” with our words is what gives a writer breath.
Whether to pay our bills or please our muse, eventually words must spill. Here are ten tips to help plow past this nagging feeling of insecurity and feel good about your words.
1. Appreciate your unique perspective.
No one sees the world exactly like you, and no one can articulate it in quite the same way. The oldest stories are told and then retold, not because they invent new things to say, but because inside a timeless message, each storyteller may weave a million individual moments.
2. Writing is conversation.
The more we speak, the more we understand the basics. Writing is no different. Most of the time, our brains operate on the surface, doing only what must be done. We may adopt the push and pull of conversation to push our voice further. Writing, much like a good discussion, can help us dig a little deeper.
3. Allow your influences to shape your voice, not drown it.
Creativity is borrowed.
Creatio ex nihilo is a myth.
All that information we absorb becomes inspiration that lives inside us, and our subconscious never forgets. We need not consciously copy our heroes, their hand is always there to guide us.
4. Believe.
You can do it! Fear is a set of handcuffs, keeping our fingers from flight. If you don’t believe in yourself, then no one else will either.
5. Ignore the rules.
You may not know precisely when to use a comma and when to use parentheses, but that decision will never equal the importance of a good idea. We first need broad strokes to lend foundation. We wash our world in red, blue, yellow, and green. Chartreuse and vermilion come later.
6. Write for someone specific.
Nothing will crystallize your voice, like scribbling for a single set of eyes. It doesn’t matter who it is, and it doesn’t have to be the same person twice. Write as though you are speaking to them. Design your jokes to make them smile, your words to feel them near.
7. Write without pause, return later.
Alone with our thoughts, it is easy to think the worst, but we should never allow them to slow us down. When our inner whisper begins to shout, we must lower our nose and keep on going. Once drained, leave. Return later, and you’ll likely be surprised at what you’ve written.
8. Take pride.
Our words are simply a more permanent version of our thought. Be proud of who you are, and know that what you write is a reflection of you.
9. Even Stephen King writes with his door closed.
No one gets it right the first time through. Just start. Even if the world will be watching once you are finished, no one is watching you now. Close the door, breathe the silence, and let what’s inside you come out to play.
10. Dip your toe, then jump… the water’s fine.
The first keystroke is always the hardest, but begetting something from nothing is what separates us from the lower species (well, that and opposable thumbs). Pushing past our fear and into uncertainty, is when we’re most likely to find ourselves.
Very inspiring suggestions. Thank you for sharing.
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I agree! It is too easy to worry about writing the right words. You must get it out on paper and then read it back afterwards, and/or get someone else to read it once the first draft is complete. Commas and semi-colons are important, but they are the cracks between the bricks that can be filled later on. Just get on with it!
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Lots of things (emotional challenge using up all the energy) kept me away from writing for the past week; this is helpful and timely as I get back in the saddle. Thanks.
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I agree! I worried for a long time about not having a lot of readers, and that I wanted to please them. Now, I write for myself, and I’m amazed that I have over 600 followers and far more traffic than I ever imagined. I’m currently finishing the first draft of the novel I started in 2012, and I can’t wait to see what happens with that!
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I follow these rules diligently, and have enjoyed every minute of filling a blank white page/screen.
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#10 is especially true for me. I procrastinate, but once I get started all is well.
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Thanks so much for this. “We paint our world in [primaries]- chartreuse and vermilion come later”. Bravo!!!
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Very inspiring and a helpful reminder for the difficult days.
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Nicely put. We really do find our voice in our experiences.
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Of all the posts you put out there, this is one of the best.
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Thank you, Karen.
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Reblogged this on HDP Media.
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Lovely article dear. ❤️✌️
BY FOR NOW
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Great advice
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All of these pieces of advice are definitely good things to think about when it comes to writing.
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A very good post
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I usually write the worst thing I can first, that way no matter what I do It’s better than that first paragraph which I always delete after.
As you can imagine it oftenjust characters dying in unusual ways or doing something really out of character.
ECHO ECHO
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This is wonderful!
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Thank you.
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Very motivating as usual. Thank you for the tips.
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One of the best post regarding writing that you’ve shared. Thanks!
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Thank you Cristian, very helpful and very inspiring.
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Break the rules. Brilliant! Thank you. 🦋
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Thank you for this.
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Point no. 6 actually makes a lot of sense. I have seen the best of my writing when I have written for someone else. Thanks for the advice!
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