How to beat a blank page

You know the feeling. The screen stares at you. Cups of coffee litter the table.

Reality check: there is nowhere to hide. Time to embrace the space.

Try the exercise below. It WILL help.

Write something!
Writing anything can help break the cycle. Think of it as a warm up, like an opera singer getting their voice in tune or athlete limbering up. You don’t have to start at the beginning, films are shot out of sequence so write a scene that isn’t the pressured opener to help get the words flowing.

Marie Kondo your ideas
When your head is swimming with ideas it can be hard to see a way out of the depths. Realise you’re in a much better place than having no ideas. Take a moment to embrace these imagination jewels and work out which ones no longer “spark joy,” Marie Kondo- style. Save the best, clear out the rest.

It doesn’t have to be perfect
That’s what editing is for. Having something on the page gives you forward momentum, even if you edit it down to just one good sentence. That one sentence is your best friend, giving you confidence and support to get out and do it all over again. Believe in the days to come when the words won’t stop.