The Blank Page

Journal Entry 2

July 20, 2024. The adventure continues! Getting started on my novel has proven to be no mean feat—it's way harder than I’d imagined. I've got tons of ideas swirling around, maybe even too many, and my thoughts are all over the place. But despite the chaos, there's still no actual writing on paper... yet! Stay tuned as I wrestle with this blank page and turn those ideas into words.

Two weeks in, and the blank page still stares back at me like a challenge. It's as if it's daring me to make the first move. I've written and deleted more sentences than I care to count. Each one feels inadequate, a pale shadow of the vibrant story in my mind.

The blank page is intimidating, but it’s also a canvas full of possibilities. I remind myself that every great novel started with a single word. Today, I wrote the first sentence of my novel. It might not be perfect, but it’s a start. "The dawn broke over the village, casting long shadows over the cobblestone streets."

What lies beyond this sentence? Characters are starting to take shape in my mind, each with their own quirks and stories. There's Emma, the protagonist, a woman of quiet strength and hidden depths. And there's Jack, the enigmatic stranger whose arrival sets the story in motion.

As I begin to sketch out the plot, I realize how much of myself I’m pouring into this story. My fears, hopes, and dreams are all there, hidden between the lines. This process is already teaching me so much about who I am and what I value.

I’ve learned that perfectionism is my biggest hurdle. I want every word to be perfect from the start, but I know that's impossible. Writing is messy, and I need to embrace that messiness.

For now, I’m celebrating small victories. A sentence written is a step forward. Each word brings me closer to my goal.