Don’t Fear The Blank Page

I'm willing to bet that Blue Öyster Cult's “Don't Fear the Reaper” is stuck in your head now. I know it’s stuck in mine.

All joking aside, the blank page carries a dichotomy. One side feels like a new chapter; it's full of newness and possibility. The other is fear. Fear of the unknown: you're unsure where to start, how to proceed, and whether it will turn out well.

This applies to writers, artists, and life.

These feelings are normal. Just like in a book, life is full of chapters. Some are rough and hard to get through. Others have highs so good you don't want them to end.

Those are the ones that seem to fly by.

When we land on a rough point, it can feel like it'll never end. Maybe you're a writer trying to start that first page. You know it feels forced, reads forced, and is crap. In life, maybe you had to take a pay cut and now you're struggling to make ends meet, or the love of your life up and left you. These situations make us fear the blank page. It's the unknown and hurt of something special ending.

I feel this each time I start something new.

Each new subject I write about, or a new chapter in my life, brings both fear and hope. One of the toughest was losing my best friend to cancer. To this day, I still feel the loss and hurt, but I learned from it. I appreciate what I have today more because of that loss. It created a chapter full of gratitude in my life that I didn't have before.

“This too shall pass” -Abraham Lincoln

Taking a different perspective can change everything. As a writer, that first crappy page gives you a place to start. You know that your second draft will be better and more polished. If you're struggling to make ends meet, there are always opportunities to learn new skills and start a side gig to help you earn more. If you did lose the love of your life, maybe they weren't your true love. Yes, it still hurts, but you're now free to find the person who is truly meant for you.

Do you see how we flipped the script?

The blank page is nothing to be feared. We can't keep it from coming. It will be there regardless of how much we fight it. When it does appear, look for a new and positive perspective on the unknown. Remember, it's only the beginning; take those first steps with courage, make the first page your own, then conquer the rest of the chapter.

Are you starting a new story, or just beginning a new chapter in life? Tell me about it in the comments. I'd love to hear how you're taking your first steps toward a new beginning.