When I see a blank page, I see a myriad of possibilities. I see a chance to write out my thoughts, feelings, and ideas in my own style. I see a chance to discuss something that might resonate with someone else in a way that neither of us expected. I see a chance to create a world of my own, limited only by my imagination. Although I often make this world as I go, reshaping it on the fly, there are a few rare times in which I see it all in my head before writing it all out. Those are the most enjoyable times for me to write.
It’s not always easy to come up with ideas or put them into words. Sometimes my ideas are so bountiful and forthcoming that they fill several pages; on other occasions, I struggle to get out a few lines. Consistent practice has, however, made this much easier than it used to be. Now I can create a blog post from scratch in half an hour or less. I prefer to take my time with these posts, but I can get them done quickly if I’m pressed for time or feeling especially inspired.
The most exciting part for me has been the gradual realization that I can write the story of my life just as I can create my own little worlds on blank pages. My life isn’t blank, but it still contains a lot of room for edits. Even though other people started writing my life and have done so for the bulk of it thus far, I’ve steadily gained the ability to take the pen and write or rewrite it as I see fit. Some stuff is worth keeping and even expanding, while other stuff can be removed. And in writing my life, as with my normal writing, I have to have some idea of where I want to go before I can make it happen even though I don’t always know the destination or the path that’ll take me there; I’m often pleasantly surprised when I end up in a very different place than where I thought I’d go. This is what makes the process exciting for me and inspires me to keep working toward something bigger than myself. I’m loving the journey so far and I’m looking forward to seeing where it takes me next.