Reading the Blank Page
Reading the Blank Page
Your page is blank and your story is stuck for a reason. And no, despite what the experts say, it isn’t writer’s block. Not exactly. Writer’s block is the symptom, not the problem. Until you correctly diagnose the underlying issue, you may not get the words on the page. So, let’s dive in and explore the top 3 reasons writers stare at a blinking cursor.
Reason One: The Overwhelm
Feeling overwhelmed is, well . . . overwhelming! But what does that really mean? When you’re overwhelmed, you’re typically burdened by too many things at one time, which can cause stress, leading to a frozen state. A type of paralysis, where you have too much to deal with and so you don’t deal with any of it.
This is when you pull the blanket over your head, hoping the chaos will disappear on its own if you ignore it long enough, reducing the load by default. While this can sometimes work, it usually doesn't, and if it does, it results in a lot of lost time. So, it is not the best approach.
So, how do we deal with Overwhelm? First, we identify it. There are two types of overwhelm: the physical factors (external) and the emotional ones (internal).
External overwhelm stems from things in your environment. They are events and situations that may or may not be under your direct control, but they are happening TO you.
Internal overwhelm bubbles up from your thoughts and feelings. Ultimately, these are under your direct control (we all know we can’t control other people’s actions or reactions, only our own. But we also know that it is easier said than done sometimes.) Regardless, these are happening WITHIN you.
Depending on what type of overwhelm you’re experiencing, your course of action will differ.
For external overwhelm, your solution is to organize it. We break it down into manageable tasks, which will organically reduce the workload as each task is accomplished.
Let’s break it down into three steps (because three is such a great number!):
List everything that is part of the overwhelm (this could be things like: write an outline, finish a book, edit the story).
Sub-task the larger goals into realistic activities.
Prioritize by urgency (Deadlines drive dates! Go ahead and create some if you don’t have any.)
For internal overwhelm, see Reason Three: The Inner Critic.
Reason Two: The Underwhelm
If you’ve ever felt bored, you may have been underwhelmed. It’s that “meh” feeling that leaves you not wanting to do anything. Disenchantment settles over you like a broken fairy tale. You’re simply not interested in something certain, or in anything at all.
This inertia can be especially troubling for writers because it can let the Inner Critic sneak in. Suddenly you go from being disconnected to your plot to thinking you don’t like it because it’s not good. And that’s not the case at all. So, you need to understand what causes underwhelm.
Typically, when you’re feeling underwhelmed while writing, the reasons can vary and include low self-esteem (this is where the Inner Critic can break down your defenses easily), not enough stimulation, having unrealistic expectations, and being stuck in a “routine rut.” So, the fix? Change something!
Being uninterested in your own story is dangerous. It means you may abandon it, or worse, not put in the effort to give it good writing. This can then become a self-fulfilling prophecy of “not being good.” So don’t force yourself to write when you’re underwhelmed. Instead, find a spark.
You can do this two ways:
Physically go out into the real world and do something out of the ordinary. Break your routine. It doesn’t have to be extreme like bungee jumping; it could be as simple as stopping in a new coffee shop or browsing books at your local library.
On paper, liven things up for your characters. Mood is easily transferred, so they may be reacting to your energy. Give them something exciting to do. Cause some tension. Add some drama. Bring in comedy relief.
This isn’t the same advice as, “Do something;” this is “Do something DIFFERENT.”
Remember, when writing scenes like the ones I just discussed, you do NOT have to keep them in the story. You’re writing them to inspire you, to learn about your characters some more, or to play with some plot concepts. If you love the scene and it works, great. But if it doesn’t, that’s okay. You still benefited from the exercise and so it was time well spent.
Hint: Writing prompts are great for removing underwhelm!
So, what happens if your negative thinking left open the door and now your underwhelm has been taken over by The Inner Critic? See Reason Three.
Reason Three: The Inner Critic
As discussed earlier, sometimes writers confuse Overwhelm for the Inner Critic. Other times, writers allow the Inner Critic entry when Underwhelm accepts complacency. And then, there are the times The Inner Critic makes random appearances throughout your journey.
The Inner Critic is a silent whisper that taunts you, mocks you, insults you, intimidates you, and cripples you. When he is at his loudest, he can cause you to mistrust yourself to the point of shutting down. The blank page is less scary than the words you put on it.
This is a writing demon to be slayed. Sometimes he can provide value (if you learn how to use him, he can become your unwilling ally during the editing phase), but usually not during the writing process . His main goal is to keep you from finishing your story. Your objective is to sharpen your quill against him.
Note: I do not know why I just gave him a male gender. Feel free to make your Inner Critic any gender you choose. But naming him is one trick to try! So, let’s dive into the first of three tips to silence the Inner Critic:
Name the beast. Give it an identity. A personality. Something tangible (even if only in your mind; you’re a writer, be creative!) that you can tousle with.
Recognize it when it appears. When you find yourself thinking, “This is stupid,” “I suck,” “My dialogue is unrealistic,” “This plot is boring,” or any other contrived, negative self-feedback, stop and face your Inner Critic.
Write. That’s it. Write, anyway. Even if it does suck. Take the power away from the Inner Critic and restore your abilities. The more you face him, the less you’ll find him.
So, no more facing blank pages or paused prose. You now have the tools to identify the true reasons your story is stuck and strategies to warm the ink and get those words flowing.
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