The Blank Page



The problem is universal, whether it be a page or a screen, it sits there looking out accusingly, daring you to put the wrong mark upon it… But sometimes just to make that first mark is all it takes to free the imagination, trigger the words to start pouring out, if only to prove a point to the blank page.

But what if the mark is a mistake, forming a stubborn stain… well that is the joy of the technical age, the delete button is our friend, no more madly rubbing away at the mark with an eraser, until the page threatens to go into a hole! Or scribbling out the mistake, making an ugly mess on the page, and probably a few pages behind it! What was that, just put a line through it? …and let everyone see what a silly mistake you made! Absolutely not! The mistake must be obliterated at all costs.

I seem to be rambling on a bit now, but you see, the blank scene was staring at me, taunting me… and now I have a piece of writing, whether I do anything with it or not is not really the point, to create for yourself, knowing that no one else need ever see it, is very freeing for the imagination.

So what am I going to do with this Thursday afternoon ramble?

·       Delete it?

·       Erase it?

·       Scribble it out?

·       Or publish and damned!