Blank Page Anxiety? Here's How to Start Writing Anyway
Staring at the blank page? Learn how to beat writer’s block with simple tricks that will get your words flowing—even if you don’t feel ready.
Hey, it’s
Reginaldo Osnildo back again—today with something that every single writer
(yes, even me) has faced at some point:
The
blank page.
It’s quiet. It’s clean. And sometimes… it’s terrifying.
Whether
you’re just starting your first story or stuck halfway through, that white
screen or empty notebook can feel like a wall you don’t know how to climb.
But here’s
the good news: you don’t need to conquer the page—you just need to start
filling it.
And I’m
going to show you exactly how.
Why the
Blank Page Feels So Intimidating
Let’s be
honest—what’s really behind the fear?
- “What if I mess up?”
- “What if it’s not good enough?”
- “What if I don’t know what to
say?”
- “What if I fail before I even
begin?”
These are
normal thoughts. You’re not lazy—you’re afraid. And fear makes us
freeze.
But guess
what? You don’t need to be fearless to write.
You just need to be willing to try anyway.
5 Simple
Strategies to Beat the Blank Page
1. Lower
the Stakes
Stop trying
to write something amazing. Just write something.
Tell
yourself:
“This isn’t
the final draft. This is just me figuring things out.”
Permission
to write badly = freedom to write at all.
2. Start
with a Prompt
If you
don’t know where to begin, don’t try to invent a whole story from scratch. Use
a prompt.
Here are a few:
- A character finds a letter with
no return address.
- Two strangers meet in a
laundromat.
- “I never thought I’d see this
place again.”
Write one
paragraph. That’s it. Just start.
3. Steal
from Real Life
Write
about:
- Something you saw on your way
to work
- A moment that made you laugh or
cry
- A conversation you overheard at
a coffee shop
Real life
is full of story seeds. You just need to notice them.
4. Write
by Hand for 10 Minutes
Sometimes,
the keyboard feels like pressure. So grab a pen and notebook.
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Don’t stop writing until it rings—even if all you
write is:
“I don’t
know what to write. This feels silly. But I’m still writing...”
That, my
friend, is momentum.
5. Start
in the Middle
Who says
you have to start with the first line?
Jump into the juicy part:
- The
argument
- The
realization
- The
twist
Start
messy. Start loud. You can fix it later.
Bonus
Tip: Keep a “Warming Up” Document
Before you
dive into a story, open a separate document and write a little nonsense first:
- Journal
your thoughts
- Describe what you see around
you
- Invent a weird character just
for fun
It gets
your brain moving—and movement kills fear.
✍️ Try This Right Now
Finish this
sentence:
“He looked at the clock and realized...”
Keep going
for 5 minutes. No pressure, no judgment. Just write.
You’ve
already won the battle if you put a word on the page.
🎁 Want to Go From Blank Page to Finished
Story—Today?
If you’re
tired of staring at that empty screen and wondering where to start, I’ve got
something that will guide you step-by-step:
👉 The Basics of Creative Writing for
Those Who Have Never Written Short Stories or Novels
This
beginner-friendly eBook is your antidote to blank-page fear. Inside,
you’ll learn how to:
- Start
writing with zero pressure
- Build characters, plots, and
scenes with ease
- Practice fun exercises to beat
writer’s block for good
You don’t
need confidence to begin. You just need curiosity—and a little nudge in the
right direction.
This book
is that nudge.
See you in
the next article!
— Reginaldo Osnildo