That first moment. The blank page or blinking cursor. Where to begin…

For some, that is the most exciting moment. A new story. A new beginning. A journey about to happen. The world is your mollusc. But, for some it is anxiety inducing. A block. Like looking out over a vast, still ocean without a boat. To be honest I used to lean toward the latter. When will inspiration strike? Oh woe is me, where is my muse?

Mslexia, a writing magazine for women, is looking for Submissions and I thought I would enter. Then I sat staring at the blank page and that little voice began asking “Are you I really a writer when you do not know where to start.” That used to bother me. It doesn’t (so much) any more.

So, I decided I would document my writing process from start to finish this time. So, I can show you what happens, as well as remind future me, how I made the slightly wonky boat and paddled off to my destination in the end.

A Theme

The piece I’m starting on right now has a theme. How I love a good theme. I can write it at the top of the page….

GOLD

There! How awesome is that? The page is no longer blank. I’ve started.

Research

Mmmm, research. I love this bit. Imagine you are five all over again. Let the curiosity flow and let’s gooooo!

Google. AI. Books. TV. YouTube. People chattering about it on Reddit. Podcasts. Conversations. That documentary you half-watched three years ago on the subject and suddenly remembered. Whatever floats your boat.

Question everything. What is gold anyway? Where the heck does it come from? Stars really? Woah! How?

Feel like you are going off at a tangent and need to rein it in a bit?… Nope. Not yet. Let it happen… SO MUCH INFORMATION!

Lists

Now you have a loooong list of interesting stuff. Maybe in some kind of order. Maybe not. This is exploration, not mapping. Maybe stick some bulletpoints on it, just to pretend it’s organised. Don’t, whatever you do, let the analytical part of your brain anywhere near this fun bit though.

This is The Gold List I came up with. It took three hours of trawling whilst I was sat in the National Centre for Writing, Writers’ Room in Norwich yesterday. Yes, it’s a mess. But when you get your list DO NOT EDIT. No, analytical brain… unless, of course, you can’t understand your own notes and know that one spelling mistake will make no sense later. But then, leave it alone.

Are you thinking “OMG! She shared her entire notes she is basing her story on… People might… steal it?”

Honestly, steal away. It’s just random stuff. You could just as easily found all that Googling or asking AI or trawling Reddit. I am happy to share my notes because I know my own voice now. I know that if we had ten writers in the same room and we gave them this list, or even just one prompt from the list, you’d get ten completely different stories back. From ten people with different preferences, thought processes, life experiences, styles and voices. None of them would be mine. I am happy to share my experience in the hope it will help other writers not go through the insecurities that exposing yourself on the page can bring.

After my golden morning, I meandered around Norwich Castle, looking for gold filigree for a hour. Not sure if that helped or hindered the writing process but that does not matter. This stage is for absorbing, mulling over and yes, just wandering about and thinking. On the plus side, I now also know, for future reference, what filigree is and looks like.

And no story of a deadline would be complete without a ticking clock for added pressure. I have until 8 June to try to create something I dare show to people without cringing.

I cannot force the writing to flow. However, I do need to sit down and do the work or it will not happen at all. I also know from the past that failure can be a big, and even non-negotiable, part of the process. Check back and find out what happens next…