Hook ‘em with a quote…
“I can fix a bad page. I can’t fix a blank page.”
This is one of my favorite quotes when it comes to writing. Let me explain.
As writers, we often have an inner judge, jury, editor and critic that lives in our head while we are trying to write. We worry about what other people are thinking or what others might think. That is one of the major causes of writer’s block. Then at the end of the day, we have nothing. You can’t fix nothing!
As a lover of NaNoWriMo, I have learned a few things. First off, I learned that getting the words on the page is the first step in writing. It doesn’t have to make sense (on the first draft!) Just getting the words on the page should cause you to celebrate! That’s the second thing I learned; celebrate the little steps you take. In the long run it will help you achieve your overall goal! The third thing I learned during my writing journey is that you can fix the bad stuff but you really can’t fix nothing. (Have you ever tried to pay something with nothing?) Get the words down first and then fix it later!
It’s okay to have bad stuff – bad pages, manuscripts, or just bad words. That is part of learning. And to write is to learn.
What do you think of the quote? Let me know!
Until next time…
18 Comments
Catherine
That’s a great quote. Very pragmatic. It’s true though. A blank page is just nothing. Even if a page has one sentence, that sentence can be used as a foundation. Nice!
Steph Wenburg
Thank you! 😀 I am so glad that you enjoyed the quote as well! 🙂
wings~of~dawn
Hello fellow redhead. You represent us quite well I must say ! Love the quote! The only thing is the “BackSpace key is sometimes overused by me.” Not a writing thing as much,but a typing thing (i miss my pen – sniff) Much obliged, Tru
Steph Wenburg
Thank you for the comment and I try to make the redheaded family proud! Mine gets quite a bit of use as well! It’s a bad habit to kick sometimes! 🙂
A
I really like this! I am horrible about leaving a page blank because I’m afraid of writing crap… I’ll try to keep this in mind!
Steph Wenburg
It’s hard to get in the habit of just writing whatever pops into you head but once you do, it’s like a release and you are so happy to get the words out!
A
I could use a release of that sort! Sometimes I feel like I can’t speak or hold a conversation because there’s so much going on in my head!
Steph Wenburg
I have a very similar problem. That is when I do a lot of free writing! 🙂
Jeanne
I was just thinking this thought today in relation to yoga…”If I don’t go to class, it’s impossible to have a good class”…thanks.
Steph Wenburg
😀 I’m glad I was able to read your wavelengths! 😃😃😃
rosemawrites
Great quote! You have written words that are truly worth pondering especially for us, writers! 🙂
Steph Wenburg
Thank you. I used to have this quote hanging in my dinning room where I used to have my desk! 🙂
rosemawrites
You’re so welcome! That’s a great idea. I would also want to paste a lot of quote here in my work desk. 😀
Steph Wenburg
Yeah, I did have it hanging in my office but I have an almost one year old who likes to rip up paper… SO I gave up at the moment with hanging in up and I just have it as my screen saver! 🙂
rosemawrites
Haha! I will try it sometime! 🙂
Fny
So much this.
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