Facing The Blank Page

June 20, 2012 in Creativity, Dig Deeper, Life with 14 Comments


You hypnotize me with your blank and empty stare.

I long to fill you with words, but the words refuse to appear.

I am full of stories: life and death, action and adventure, drama and comedy.

Inside are stories of love and hate. Stories of  joy and despair.

There is not a lack of content, but you tell me I have nothing to say.

I refuse to believe your lies.

Yet you drain me.

I attempt to fill myself up until my cup overflows.

I pick up books. I look at pictures. I listen to music.

The words, images, and musical notes resonate and form shapes as thoughts swirl within.

The blender is full and the lid is nowhere to be found.

Time to push the start button.

Creativity flows over and it is messy, because life is messy.

The pen allows me to clean up the spillage.

Words are layered and weaved into the textural landscape from dawn to dusk.

The page is filled.

The job is done.

Until another blank page is found.

 

Does the blank page hypnotize or paralyze you? What do you do to overcome that?

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  • http://twitter.com/missionsgirl susie finney

    If it’s a journal page, it always energizes me. If the “page” in question is a computer screen…not so much, depending on my mood. Still finding ways to get myself started when on the computer, but even simple things like starting a new blog post with just a title-nothing more-seems to help.

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  • http://rebootingworship.com/ Jamie Kocur

    It depends on the day. Some days a blank page makes me want to burst into tears and others it makes me really excited.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      I totally understand that Jamie. Thanks for commenting!! 

  • http://randomlychad.com Chad Jones

    It both hypnotizes, and paralyzes me. I’m often intimidating until I dive in, and time then loses all meaning.

    Great post, Jim!I did a similar post some months ago: http://randomlychad.com/2012/02/blank-pageintimidation-a-poem.html

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Thanks so much Chad. I can feel the emotion/frustration pouring out of your post. 

  • Yvettecarol

    You know what Jim it’s a “job” too. This being a writer thing. A lot of times I think we get messed up by thinking we have to be inspired to write. Whereas all you have to do is DO it. Julia Cameron believes in ‘morning pages’ where you have to put pen to paper every morning and write whatever comes to you. I did a wonderful writing course once with the exceptional Kiwi author Kate de Goldi. She advocates something similar. She said every day either write for 10 minutes or do two pages. It’s sort of like kick-starting a car, you know what I mean? :-)

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      I totally get what you are saying Yvette. You write anyways, whether or not you are inspired!!

  • http://twitter.com/elramey debra elramey

    You grabbed me from “You hypnotize me with your blank and empty stare.”
    I think you may be onto something here Jim. Sometimes we are hypnotized, even paralyzed, by the thought of a blank page.

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Thanks Debra! I really appreciate it. I think the blank page can be just like a schoolyard bully. It is more about scaring us than it is about hurting us. Once we realize that we CAN defeat it, then it’s just a matter of finding the energy and will power to do it. (Over and over and over, right.)

  • http://www.eileenknowles.com Eileen

     ”The blender is full and the lid is nowhere to be found.”  That’s  a great line, Jim!

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Thanks so much. I hope your blender is overflowing Eileen. As a writer, we need to always let the creativity inside overflow. 

  • TheyCallMeKeeks

    “There is not a lack of content, but you tell me I have nothing to say.

    I refuse to believe your lies.”  Dang. Thanks for bringing all sorts of truth today. Gonna push through the paralysis…

    • http://unknownjim.com/ Jim Woods

      Thanks so much Keeks. I appreciate it. That’s right you gotta push through!! Don’t let that blank page win ;)