Surfing the Blank Page

Every so often, I always refresh my mind from writing by riding the nearest wave. I remember one time that didn’t happen. The water was calm, the wind was still, and the scene was empty. The waves were gone, and the emptiness of the water almost scared me a little.

Writing can be like that too. There’s nothing more daunting than the blank page or the void of white on the computer screen. The white space then acts as a barrier, blocking the thoughts from your mind and preventing you from getting them on paper. Some people think of this as “writer’s block”, some mystical thing that prevents them from being great writers.

However, it’s not mystical at all, and it isn’t unbreakable.

Remember that the journey of a mile always begins with a single step. A single word can break the silence of the empty page. When writing a first draft, you don’t need to worry about whether you’re not good enough, or that what you’ve written doesn’t work, or that your grade will crash into the rocks if you miss that fragment or comma splice. You can always revise those problems in a later draft.

Depending on how you write, you can always find a way to beat the blank space. One way to do this is simply ride the wave and write. Just type whatever is in your mind at that moment. Don’t stop for anything. Be as one with the text.

When you stop and give yourself time to think, your mind may find a way to trick you into not writing. It will tempt you with that beautiful day outside, the desire to sleep after a long class period, or anything else you’d rather do instead of writing. Ignore that urge to procrastinate, however compelling it sounds to you.

Give yourself space and time to write for yourself when this happens. Find a quiet and peaceful place for you to be alone with your thoughts as you write. Use the writing tools that you love most. Some people enjoy relaxing music when they work. What you use is up to you, and it’s okay to experiment. The important thing is that you schedule a time and a place each day to keep writing, even if it’s just for yourself. This will help you put yourself in a positive frame of mind as you work.

The best way to break the cycle of blockage is to get in the habit of writing without fear. Get into the rhythm of your work, and stay a step ahead of whatever is blocking you. Know what holds you back and push against it. Once you break that initial resistance and find the momentum of your wave, the words will come. Who knows? You may even discover the joy of writing that comes with self-expression.

See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! ‘Til then, hang ten!