The Fear of the Blank Page
Introduction
We need to put words to paper, but they will not come. The blank page intimidates us. The objects in the room call, our eyes wander, and our mind runs to places that are more desirable. We struggle to come back to the page with pen in hand. In the meantime, the white space has grown in intensity, until it is blinding.
Writer’s block is a common foe of even experienced writers. To the novice, the problem becomes a taunt and we subsequently begin to despise the activity of writing. We cannot bear to face our inadequacies again and we resist, protecting our psyche.
We must never forget that writing is a creative activity that springs from an inner well. If the well is dry, then we cannot be creative. Either we do something else or we find a way to kick-start the engine of creativity, so the wheels can run again.
Ideally, we learn strategies to help us deal with these occasions of writer’s block, when the words will not come. As deadlines loom, our anxieties escalate until they take over. Let us discuss how we can overcome this problem.
