Tuesday, September 1, 2009

The Blank Page




Prolific romance/suspense writer, Nora Roberts, said, "The most important thing in writing is to have written. I can always fix a bad page. I can't fix a blank one."
In a bookstore, one hears many personal theories on writing and the intimidation of the blank page.
Margaret Laurence left a husband and a home in the U.S. to live in a remote part of southern England in order to focus on her writing. The view from Robert's desk is the hills of rural Maryland. As important as the writing environment is the chosen genre. We hear, "Write what one knows."
"It is a mistake, a really big mistake," according to Roberts, "to believe that you can write what you wouldn't read for pleasure,"
And on making time, "A writer never finds the time to write. A writer makes it. If you don't have the drive, the discipline, and the desire, then you can have all the talent in the world, and you aren't going to finish a book. All the talent in the world isn't going to do you any good."
Tomorrow: More words of wisdom from writers.
Photos: by Lorna. My backyard.