Blank Page

The Blank Page


Well, here it is. Just a blank page staring at me. It can have quite an effect on people who like to write. The idea of starting with nothing and expecting the miracle of a filled page can be scary. Sometimes it seems we have a million ideas trying to tumble out of our heads, but the ideas seem to come when we’re grocery shopping or pumping gas! By the time we get home to write them all down so we can become the rich and famous author of our wildest dreams, the ideas seem to have suddenly disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again!

Why do we put ourselves through such torture? We know we enjoy writing, but why do we do it? Why put ourselves through the madness of trying to organize the few ideas we were able to capture? The malady known as writer’s block can be a terrible thing. It attacks our confidence and can sometimes rip it to shreds. It can haunt our every moment. While we are awake, we are ever aware of the Blank Page yelling at us to DO SOMETHING! While asleep, we run into nightmares of being swallowed by the “Blank Page from the Mind’s Lagoon”. We spend our time trying to convince ourselves that we are competent, we are not stupid, and we will, eventually, get over whatever our problem is. In the meantime, the Blank Page tells us we shouldn’t even be allowed to help our children write down their ABC’S or the week’s spelling words!

It’s kind of like trying to play baseball short of one player. It can be done, but it’s not preferred! Try playing with no pitcher. How about no catcher? With no one to guard first base? We have all the bats, balls, and gloves, but, without that one player, it’s a pretty tough game. Just like having the paper, pencil, or computer, but the ideas didn’t show up! We have a perfect playing field, whether it’s an office of our own or the dining room table. Our mind, like a referee, is telling us to either play or forfeit. Most of the time we go ahead and play. We may not play well, but at least we’re in the game. Even bad writing is writing, which is what we like to do anyway.

Then, right out of the blue comes our Star Pitcher. That one idea that can set off a spark so bright the keyboard is likely to burst into flame. The lead in the pencil can’t keep up. No blank pages here, the Idea has come! This perfect moment is why we persevere, why we keep trying. It’s the love of the game, ya’ll, the love of the game!


By the way, Blank Page - 0, Writer - 1 !!