Writers often struggle when facing a blank screen. How should they begin writing? What are the right opening words? How should they tell a story?
The blank screen seems like a roadblock. How do you get around it or move through it?
There is one simple way that works every time: Write messy.
Messy Is a Great Beginning
Messy is a great beginning. I was reminded of this when a client told me recently that she jotted down notes after a family interview. She is writing a family history and had the chance to ask questions of an older family member. As soon as the conversation was over, she wrote down what was said.
She didn’t worry about how her notes sounded or how the pieces fit together. She just wrote. Now she has something to work with. She won’t be facing a blank screen when she sits down to shape her notes into a family story.
Not only did she eliminate the blank screen with her notes. She also captured the conversation and her reflections while they were fresh in her mind. She can always shape things later. But it’s not as easy to recapture words and feelings if you wait too long. Now she has fresh material to work with—and no blank screen.
Try Writing Messy
If you are feeling intimidated by a blank screen, try this out: Set a timer for 10-15 minutes. Write about something related to your book. Write messy: bullet points, fragments, thoughts, feelings, reflections, descriptions. Don’t worry how those pieces will fit together. Just write messy.
The next time you sit down to work on your project, you can start shaping those messy words into a section of your book. No blank screen. Material you can work with.
Remember, writing a book is a journey. Take it one step at a time. If you enjoy the journey, your readers will too.
Janet Eriksson 