Blank Page Syndrome: What It Is and How to Beat It
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Article by: Sarah Myles, freelance writer at Globe Soup.
We all need a little space from time to time; a little breathing room to let the creative juices flow. But occasionally, space can trigger a problem. Specifically, the space of a blank page can set off an internal response that makes it feel like an insurmountable obstacle. That blank page looms before us like the sheer face of a mountain, and we’re pretty sure we will never get past it. Welcome to Blank Page Syndrome - a very real, very troubling issue for many writers.
What is Blank Page Syndrome, exactly?
We sometimes hear the terms ‘writer’s block’ and ‘Blank Page Syndrome’ used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference. If writer’s block is the generalised anxiety of the writing process, then Blank Page Syndrome is the acute anxiety version. Rather than being a wide scale creative blockage, Blank Page Syndrome is the dread that is directly linked to the empty void of an unsullied Word document or notebook sheet.
It can happen frequently, or without warning, and worrying about it can make it worse. This is because Blank Page Syndrome relates to what is going on in your mind, and therefore your life. It can often rear its head when life is especially chaotic or busy, and when we are spinning a lot of metaphorical plates. It can also occur when an important deadline is looming, because the weight of that significance triggers the issue. As with any kind of anxiety, however, there are ways to deal with Blank Page Syndrome effectively in the moment, as and when it occurs.
Ways to deal with Blank Page Syndrome in the moment:
You want to write your story, but that blank page is setting your teeth on edge, and you just can’t figure out how to get around it. Perhaps you feel the physical impact of anxiety – your heart starts to race and beads of sweat begin form around your temples. Your stomach feels like it’s tied in a knot. You start to spiral. You start to question why you’re even trying to write in the first place.
Stop what you’re doing, and let’s deal with that first. Try any or all of these strategies:
Make a word list
The quickest way to deal with Blank Page Syndrome is to eliminate the blank page; to alter its appearance. The way to do this productively is to add something small to the page that will help you crack your story open. When you’re in the throes of Blank Page Syndrome, engaging with a writing prompt can still be too much to handle – a kind of decision paralysis can take hold that can make choosing a writing prompt just as stressful as the blank page itself.
So, rather than worrying about all that, strip it all right back to the bare essentials. You’ve got your story in your head – try grabbing a few words that are linked with it and make a simple bullet list. A little word association exercise can go a long way. It gets you focusing on individual language options rather than the whole story, while also serving to spark ideas both now, and when you come back to it later. The best part is that, when you do come back to it, the page won’t be blank.
Create a routine
Creating a writing routine is something that comes up a lot in advice for writers, and for good reason. There is science behind it. Whatever your own writing goal is, it almost certainly involves some version of getting your story on paper, somewhere, and having it find its audience. This is what unites us as writers and, in order for us to do that, we have to show up and write consistently. Blank Page Syndrome causes deviation from that plan but, creating a routine can help trigger productive automatic behaviours that override the instinct to dread the blank page.
The end goal of a writing routine is a writing habit. A routine is a series of conscious actions or behaviours that we perform regularly. A habit is an automatic behaviour. A routine that always builds to a writing session will eventually trigger your writing, in the same way that a bedtime routine for a toddler will eventually trigger sleepiness. In both situations, the key is consistency and perseverance. A 2009 research study published in the European Journal of Social Psychology indicated that it could take, on average, 66 days to successfully form a habit. So, create a routine, stick with it, and see if you spot the difference in three months. Meanwhile, enjoy the fact that you are acknowledging the Blank Page Syndrome, and you’re taking action right now, in the moment.
Use a timer
The use of a timer in writing sessions is also a common feature of general writing advice, because it encourages writers to make use of the time that they realistically have, rather than waiting for a larger chunk of time to become free. In that context, it is sometimes referred to as The Pomodoro Technique and often works well for studying and revision, too. But this technique is specifically effective for the anxiety-related Blank Page Syndrome because it applies a strategy used in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.
One of the first steps in dealing with acute anxiety is breaking larger tasks down into smaller chunks. For example, if thinking about your whole day causes breath-taking panic, it helps to think only of getting up and brushing your teeth. Then you think about the next ten minutes. Before you know it, it’s the middle of the afternoon and you’ve handled everything with aplomb. So, if thinking about that blank page is too crushing to even get started, set a timer and stick to it. You could start with five minutes, then build up to ten. When the timer goes off, you stop, take a break, then return and do the same again. Soon enough, that blank page will be filled with a first draft.
Switch up your starting point
Nobody said you have to start at the beginning. You may have a few different scenes clearly thought out in your mind, or even some specific dialogue from somewhere in the middle. Maybe you already know how it will end. Instead of worrying about getting that brilliant first line just right, hash out a little something from further along in the narrative. It will eliminate the blank page while helping you get to grips with the structure of your story.
Change your view
When you are stuck in either a creative rut or an acute Blank Page Syndrome spiral, changing your environment can be really helpful. It helps re-set your mind, opening up new avenues of thought while distracting from anxiety. Going for a walk is always a good option, bringing with it the benefit of exercise and fresh air. You could even take your laptop or notebook and sit in a park or café to write if that is your vibe.
Changing your view doesn’t have to involve leaving your home or office, though. Rearranging your workspace can be just as effective, and also allows you a little procrastination. You could tidy your desk, or even move furniture around. It is the simple act of making a change to your writing area that quickly reinvigorates your creative process.
Allow for imperfection
No bestseller or award-winning short story ever arrived, fully formed and perfect, in the first draft. It just doesn’t work that way. The purpose of the first draft is to get the story down, however it comes, so that you can work on it. Once it’s there, you can polish, change, add, cut and shape the tale until you are happy with it; until it is ready. In order to achieve your version of perfection – whatever that looks like – you have to allow for imperfection first. The good news is, that imperfect first stab at the tale eliminates the blank page. Allow the imperfection to flow, and you’ll be past the blank page stage of that story forever.
Reducing the risk of Blank Page Syndrome in the future
Blank Page Syndrome is common among writers, but it doesn’t have to be an inevitability. It doesn’t have to come with the territory. Once you are at a safe distance from it – having dealt with it in the moment using any or all of the strategies outlined above – it’s important to consider what sparked the Blank Page Syndrome in the first place.
Where is that anxiety really coming from? Is there heightened stress elsewhere in your life? Are you lacking confidence in your writing? Are you experiencing fear of failure, or fear of success? If you take the time to dig in and address such issues, you can help reduce the incidence of Blank Page Syndrome in the future. Then, instead of inspiring dread, the blank page will spark excitement, and we can all enjoy your stories.
Sarah Myles is a freelance writer. She has worked as a blogger, contributing author, copywriter, and award-winning columnist for a variety of outlets. Originally from London, Sarah now lives in North Yorkshire with her husband, two children, and a moody ghost. You can find more of Sarah's work at www.sarahmyles.net and www.smyleswritingservices.com