Blank Pages

Thanks for checking out my blog. 

As I sit here, staring at a Word Document that should be full of life, (and, of which, I've almost reached 20,000 words) - I realize, that sometimes, a blank page can be a beautiful thing. 

Writer's are often told to write - just write. Write as much as you can, as often as you can. And, as someone who's been writing her whole life - I wholeheartedly agree that writing is an important part of creativity, especially when you know you have the story inside of you. You may think about it all the time - constant thoughts of what your characters look like, what their next adventure may be, and what trauma you're going to put them through while you clack-clack-clack at the keyboard. But, the unfortunate side of writing is this: it's not always doable to write, "whenever, wherever." And it's not easy. While completing my MFA with Queens University of Charlotte, if there was one thing that the professors (all professional writers as well) drilled into my head, it was this: "Anyone who thinks writing is easy isn't a real writer."

And that's true, to an extent. Somedays, the words may flow so gracefully; everything you write feels skilled and beautiful. And other days, you sit there - and you stare. You stare at a page that's already full of words, or a new blank page that needs some sort of content on it. You type and you type, but you find yourself deleting everything, because you either aren't in the right state of mind, or you just don't know where to go to help develop the plot. It's easy to just jam away at the keyboard, but as writers, we want our stories to make sense. We want every word to be fascinating and alluring, and we, undoubtedly, put too much pressure on ourselves to make our first drafts perfect. 

But, the truth is - a blank page is beautiful. It's a portrait that has not yet been painted. It's a story that has not yet been told - through your eyes, and only yours. No one else can tell this story the way you would. They say there are no original ideas - but there are original chroniclers - and you're one of them. 

If you have to - if you're just not feeling it that day, the truth is: it's okay to take a break. Some writers have had to take breaks for months, or even years. If you're a true writer, it will come back to you. Stop and take some time to think for a day (maybe three) and eventually, the words will tumble back out, and you'll know exactly where your story is going. Listen to music; go for a walk; binge-watch a show; write rambles in your personal journal. Your ideas, your thoughts, your creativity, will emerge. Because it's who you are and who you were meant to be. 

And this story is what you were meant to write.