A new document stands open on your laptop, the cursor blinking expectantly. There’s a job to do, and only you can do it. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to craft a piece of work that will help you achieve your goal. Whether that goal is an A grade, a business proposal that gets you that grant, or a beautifully crafted manuscript, it all depends on what you do right now, today. But no pressure.
The blank page presents diverse challenges for even the most seasoned writers. It is a representation of how far we have to go, of the work that is waiting to be done. It reminds us of what is at stake if the final draft doesn’t live up to our expectations. Perhaps our grade is on the line, or our job. Maybe we doubt our skills as writers or as experts in our field. Or maybe the blank page scares us for a far simpler reason: we just don’t know where to begin.
No worries.
This simple 4-step guide will help you get beyond that blank page, and into your own creative space, where the words, your words can finally flow.
Step #1. Do Your Research.
“The more you think about what you want to say, and plan for it, the easier it is to say.” This quote from Ann Handley’s book Everybody Writes states in simple terms something many writers (ahem, me) forget–that preparation matters. To some, that preparation involves hefty textbooks, for others, it means pages and pages of plot and character-building exercises. For me, it is more often than not a long walk through my favorite grove of trees, where I can think and imagine and order my thoughts into something that makes sense, followed by frenzied, fast-paced scribbling in a spiral notebook before I forget it all. Whatever preparation looks like for you, don’t take it for granted. It contains the seeds of your written masterpieces. Ann Handley goes on to say, “Figuring out what you want to say before you figure out how to say it seems an obvious first step.” And I believe she is right.
Take advantage of lists, outlines, and circle maps in your preparation. Doing so builds you a glossary of ideas from which to work. Gathering your research in the form of keywords instead of full sentences will simplify and speed this process. Just remember to keep track of your sources so you can refer back to them if needed. When you have a credible amount of research and brainstormed thought rooting for you, your first draft will come with more clarity and ease.
One word of warning: the preparation process can also become our favorite form of procrastination. We plan and plan and plan some more, putting off the hard slog of that intimidating first draft for the informality and familiarity of preparation. When you find yourself in that position, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Step #2. Show Up.
That’s right. It’s time to face that blank page. The best way to do this is to schedule it. Put it in your calendar. Then, just like you’d prepare to leave for work in the morning, prepare for your scheduled writing time. Gather your research. Put your workspace in order. Charge your laptop. Throw the dog a bone. Take care of any immediate needs such as lunch or laundry. Then settle into your space. Remember, there will always be things that distract us from writing. But nothing will get written if you don’t carve out the time to do it. If you read last week’s post, you’ll remember it doesn’t take much, just a commitment to write. So, let’s do it!
Step #3. Gather Your Words.
First drafts exist for a purpose–to gather the words you’ll later use to write. Imagine you are out on a hillside, picking flowers. As you go, you’ll probably end up with a few weeds in your basket. That’s ok. you can sort them out later. Right now you’re just gathering. Gather your words by writing as much as you can about your chosen topic or scene for a set amount of time. Don’t let the pen stop. If you forget a term, or a character’s name, put it in brackets to fill in later. Like this: “Gwen stopped short when she noticed [her boss] going through her desk.” Then, once you’ve exhausted that topic, spend some time on your next one. Like grouping flowers according to color in preparation for your bouquet, gathering words according to topic or scene is the beginning of building structure and form into your draft.
You can see an example of this “gathering” technique to the right. This is a preliminary page from my fantasy manuscript and, as you can see, it probably doesn’t make much sense to anyone but me. I enjoy writing my first draft longhand because it feels less formal and it’s easier to let go of perfectionism. I can’t backspace on paper, so the process is more spontaneous and genuine. It’s also clutterific, which I love.
If that’s not your style, that’s ok. Just gather those words, and don’t forget step 4.
Step #4. Don’t Judge.
Writing is hard. It’s humbling. It’s an exercise in imperfection. Every word we write can feel like we’re exposing our underpants. My advice is to view your first draft the way you do your underpants: don’t show it to anyone if you don’t want to. Nobody has to see it. But even if you decide to share, it’s ok. It’s a rough draft. I love what Martha Alderson says in The Plot Whisperer, “What are you afraid of? That someone will stumble across a rough draft and label you an idiot for the mess? This is not the time to give power to your ego. Writing is a sacred ritual. Accept imperfection in yourself and you learn to allow for it in others.” She reminds us not to worry about grammar, spelling, or structure. There will be plenty of time to mold and perfect your words in future drafts. Judgement does not belong in the first draft.
Our fear of judgement is often greatest when we ourselves are the source. We know a first draft is going to be lousy. We know it’s not going to look like the polished and seemingly perfect mystery thriller we binge-read over the weekend. But how easy we forget, when we stifle our muse by expecting a level of perfection that only comes through merciless editing and revision. Mindfulness guru Deepak Chopra said, “Judgement creates turbulence in our mind. And when there is turbulence in our mind, it interferes with the creativity of our soul.” When we let go of judgement, we can truly connect with our own creativity.
So, do your research, show up, gather your words, and don’t judge them, and you will be well on your way to filling up those blank pages with all you will need to craft a piece of work you can be proud of. Now get writing!
What has helped you conquer that first draft? Have these tips worked for you? Let me know.
Amy Schmutz 
