The Steps to Writing When You're Staring at a Blank Page
Welcome Aboard!
Our Illoguild prompt this month is “write about a process.” I chose to write The Steps to Writing — When You’re Staring at a Blank Page.
“First find out what your character wants. Then just follow him.” Ray Bradbury
Bradbury offers some great advice; knowing your main character’s motives, psychological baggage and history goes along way in starting your story.
But first,
* You need to get your butt in the chair and pick up the pen. When you sit down at your desk, keep it simple. Set the timer, set a prompt and begin. Don’t edit. Don’t look back. Editing comes later. As Anne Lamott stated, “Write your shitty first draft.” In other words, just get your ideas down and don’t worry about the burden of perfection.
Sure it helps to practice at the same time in the same room every day or leave a notebook throughout the house, in your purse or car. But the important step is to sit down and start.
* Brainstorm - Creating a mind map of ideas, themes and plots can be like a GPS in getting you from the beginning to the end and navigating the messy middle of your story. Writing is creative and having a process helps. But where does one begin?
* If all else fails, take a walk. If you’re staring at a blank page and after several attempts to write and nothing happens, getting outside and letting your mind wonder can help. There’s so much creativity and abundance around—from the leaves on the trees to the clouds in the sky. Nature is unique, different and inspiring. Let your mind wander.
* Read, Read, Read - Reading is not a substitute for writing but it complements it and will make your writing stronger. Read books on your theme, your favorite authors or recommended authors. In most cases, those authors probably struggled throughout the writing process also.
* Explore your character - Doodle or sketch what your main character would look like—their personality, traits, the clothing they like to wear, the friends they would choose, their home, bedroom or environment. Maybe they share the same similarities that you have.
As Anne Frank says, I can shake off everything as I write, my sorrows disappear, my courage is reborn.” Remember, this is your story and you have the power to shape the characters and ending how you want.
* Make Decisions - Define your audience and the age range which will dictate your plot, conflict, setting, word count, marketing and so many more decisions. Picture books commonly focus on children aged 4 through 6 year olds and roughly contain 500 words. There are many genres — board books, novelty books, early readers, chapter books and graphic novels, to name a few, that will help shape and frame your story.
* Start with your ending first. Sometimes beginning at the ending can guide your plot and keep you on track. One of the best tools in my writing process has been the benefits of a critique group. It takes courage to share your writing with others for the first time but finding like minded people sharing your craft and reviewing your art and illustrations in progress is invaluable.
It takes time and persistence to keep going, re-doing, editing—sometimes even starting over. That’s when I have to tell myself—enjoy the process. It’s not about getting somewhere and resting on your laurels. It’s about enjoying the creative and messy process to do your art daily.
“You can’t use up creativity; the more you use, the more you have.”
Maya Angelou
Wishing you abundance and creativity in your writing and art journey. Thank you for joining me dear reader and until next time,
Wishing you all the best,
Noreen Anne