What do you see when you look at a blank page? Do you see opposition or opportunity? Today I am going to share about a writing technique/concept. I learned this from a professor in college, and it’s something I still practice today.

First, hunt for a blank piece of paper.

It must be free from all other things: no lines, no headers, and no artwork. If you like to write on colored paper, you absolutely can – I would just say be mindful of the color. In fact, if you write a novel by hand and complete your entire rough draft on pink paper, I think that alone is interesting enough for me to want to look at the book.

Second, shut down your computer.

Your blank page cannot be on your computer screen. This must be a real-time, real-life, legit piece of paper. Size doesn’t matter. Well, depending on how many words you want to put on it, you might need more pages. But you want to have a piece of paper you can lift up, fold, smell, rip, and take with you wherever you go. Now, you’re ready to write.

Third, consider the opportunity.

Many writers avoid blank pages because we fear writer’s block. But when a child looks at a blank piece of paper, something is sparked within them. Excitement. Opportunity. They’re not constantly being autocorrected or forced into perfect spacing. They are free to press on a pen, crayon, or marker, and put into words the wonder that is inside their minds. If words don’t do it justice, a sketch here or there will fill in the gaps. It’s a beautiful, personal, and smart way to craft creative work.

There is a time and a place for the computer, typewriter, or whatever tool you want to use. They help to make your work accessible, readable, and grammatically correct. But I challenge you to a blank piece of paper today: an open world waiting for you to invent it.