tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post2231505428794006842..comments2023-10-30T07:08:09.860-07:00Comments on It's a Mystery: The Blank PageElspeth Futcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-47002657504386377362009-09-01T06:40:57.036-07:002009-09-01T06:40:57.036-07:00I am one of those people who writes first in my mi...I am one of those people who writes first in my mind and then puts it down on paper/ screen. And if I am stuck in a situation where I need to start on a fresh page/ screen, I format the page with my favourite font, and spacing, so I feel I have achieved something and can start writing.<br /><br />Who says writers aren't strange people?Natashahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00481081735923606868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-89707230340021790182009-08-30T13:05:59.677-07:002009-08-30T13:05:59.677-07:00Thanks for your thoughts, Sylvia - and thanks for ...Thanks for your thoughts, Sylvia - and thanks for following my blog. Greatly appreciated!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-114948389713630812009-08-30T12:15:53.602-07:002009-08-30T12:15:53.602-07:00It's like in a art class and the teacher says,...It's like in a art class and the teacher says, "cover your whole canvas with a soft light blue! No more blank canvas. Get something down, even if you have to copy a scripture!! Of course then we must go delete it--but only after we get other words on the page! And yes, I like the idea of not necessarily starting at the beginning.Sylvia Dickey Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06665990701980727149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-81133351629782651172009-08-30T09:35:00.859-07:002009-08-30T09:35:00.859-07:00I share your pain. Thanks for dropping by! Hope ...I share your pain. Thanks for dropping by! Hope you'll continue to do so!Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-39891716096038943732009-08-30T09:26:44.116-07:002009-08-30T09:26:44.116-07:00I do, however, also have trouble spelling trouble....I do, however, also have trouble spelling trouble.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-41102257794340783562009-08-30T09:26:11.877-07:002009-08-30T09:26:11.877-07:00I have no toruble starting. I have no trouble endi...I have no toruble starting. I have no trouble ending. It's that middle part that kicks my butt every time. LOL.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-27908388239994335612009-08-29T12:26:33.874-07:002009-08-29T12:26:33.874-07:00Hope it helps, Elspeth! If not, as Jack mentioned,...Hope it helps, Elspeth! If not, as Jack mentioned, a Guinness likely will. :)<br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-85430358105796986302009-08-28T19:44:27.810-07:002009-08-28T19:44:27.810-07:00Helen, I like your thinking and I usually do try t...Helen, I like your thinking and I usually do try to leave something on a page so I'm only facing the blankness once.<br /><br />Galen, thanks for the suggestion. I've never started anywhere but the beginning, shall give it a try! <br /><br />Elizabeth, that's brilliant! I'm upset that I haven't thought of it myself! Thank you!<br /><br />Jack, I think anyone who can write Elspeth Futcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10330102545384369360noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-52050690342450763422009-08-28T19:25:41.919-07:002009-08-28T19:25:41.919-07:00Isn't it the funniest thing, though? No matter...Isn't it the funniest thing, though? No matter how many times we hear all this good advice, there's still that reluctance to sit down and face a blank page. Writers are very strange people.Patricia Stolteyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17192369425956406122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-13722088662238018732009-08-28T15:51:42.035-07:002009-08-28T15:51:42.035-07:00I tend to psych myself out and write at the top, &...I tend to psych myself out and write at the top, "This does not have to be perfect -- feel free to suck as much as you want."<br /><br />Most of the time it works. Other times I wind up cursing back at it.<br /><br />I shared this trick with my students -- it's amusing when they turn in their final drafts and I discover that they've forgotten to delete it.Elisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08399296868934652020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-23753450241996236322009-08-28T15:48:05.763-07:002009-08-28T15:48:05.763-07:00No, there's nothing worse. And those wiser and...No, there's nothing worse. And those wiser and more articulate than I have already commented, so I'll just say, "Follow their advice."<br /><br />If you're still stuck after that, then ask Elizabeth for a Guinness.Craig Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04601732068274136557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-45234213229282768802009-08-28T14:56:57.441-07:002009-08-28T14:56:57.441-07:00Helen and Galen have great suggestions. One that s...Helen and Galen have great suggestions. One that sometimes works for me is to come up with as much as possible in my head and THEN write down a lot of material. I love merrily typing away and feeling clever as if the material were JUST THEN coming into my head. <br /><br />Elizabeth<br /><a href="http://mysterywritingismurder.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow"> Mystery Writing is Murder</a>Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-79843795738746060592009-08-28T13:40:06.466-07:002009-08-28T13:40:06.466-07:00Helen has a good point. Just start with anything....Helen has a good point. Just start with anything.<br /><br />Another point: Don't necessarily start at the beginning. If that's a sticking point, and you sound like you know lots of story detail already, start at some other point in the book. That's actually kind of fun if you're familiar enough with what's gonna happen.<br /><br />Best Regards, Galen<br /><a href="http://joe doaks-Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05283066862112820202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4538744000429800248.post-51585849613456514662009-08-28T13:25:13.727-07:002009-08-28T13:25:13.727-07:00The trick is to get rid of the blank page. Write y...The trick is to get rid of the blank page. Write your name at the top. Or the date. Or a favorite quote. Or something that might motivate you, like "I am powerful." And if you're working on a book or a short story, etc., don't stop at the end of a page. Write the next sentence on a fresh page, then stop.<br /><br />Helen<br /><a href="http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com" rel="Helen Gingerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09794759602654727110noreply@blogger.com