Embracing the Blank Page

Let’s start with one of the most daunting moments for any writer - the blank page.

There’s this idea out there that writers wait for inspiration to strike like a lightning bolt. That you sit down at your desk, sip some coffee, and the words just flow. And maybe that happens once or twice in your life, but for most of us, the beginning is messy and uncertain.

So, if you’re feeling that way… good news! You’re already doing it right.

Let’s talk about how to really get started on a fiction book (without hiring a book coach who’s trained to help you).

Start with Curiosity, Not Perfection

Too often, writers put pressure on themselves to come up with The Perfect Idea. A blockbuster concept, maybe, or a character no one’s ever seen before. But here’s the thing: books don’t begin with perfection. They begin with curiosity.

Ask yourself:

• “What kind of stories do I love reading?”

• “What kind of characters fascinate me?”

• “What questions won’t leave me alone?”

  
  

Maybe you keep thinking about a woman who disappears from her own wedding, or a teenager who starts hearing whispers from the future, or a cranky barista who accidentally adopts a vampire cat from outer space.

It doesn’t have to be high-concept. It just has to pull you in.

Think of this idea as a seed. You don’t need the whole garden yet, just something you want to nurture.

Get to Know Your Protagonist

Once you’ve got that seed of an idea, the next step is to get to know your main character.

Who are they before the story begins? What do they want? What are they afraid of? And most importantly, how will they change by the end?

Because fiction is really about the stuff that happens, it’s about transformation. Even in plot-driven books like thrillers, mysteries, and adventures, readers come for the action, but hang around for the emotional arc.

Let’s take a look at Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games. She isn’t simply surviving the arena - she’s evolving from a reluctant fighter to a symbol of rebellion. Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice isn’t just falling in love - she’s learning to see past her own pride.

Knowing your protagonist’s arc early on can help guide the story even if you’re not a planner.

If you’re not sure where to start, try writing your character a letter. Ask them what they want most, what keeps them up at night, or write a scene from their childhood, or imagine what they’d do if they won the lottery. Let them surprise you. (They almost always do.)

Build the Emotional Core of Your Story

A lot of early writers get stuck focusing on plot before emotion. They try to invent twists, big scenes, or elaborate worlds but forget what the story feels like.

Ask yourself: “What’s the emotional engine of this book? Is it about redemption? Longing? Betrayal? Belonging?”

The emotional core of your story will help you make decisions when you’re not sure where to go. For example:

• If your story is about forgiveness, then every major choice your character faces should pull on that ‘golden thread’.

• If it’s about freedom vs. responsibility, that tension should echo in the setting, the relationships, and the internal conflict.

  
  

Even if the plot changes, the emotional arc can keep your story grounded.

Decide on a Format That Works for You

Now let’s talk about how you write, because, guess what, there’s no one right way.

Some writers outline everything before they draft, others discover the story as they go, and most of us are somewhere in the middle.

If you like planning, you might try:

• A scene-by-scene outline.

• A three-act structure map.

• A beat sheet (though if you’re like me, you may have a love/hate relationship with those!).

  
  

If you prefer discovery writing, consider:

• A list of “must-have” scenes you’re excited to write.

• A rough midpoint or ending image to aim for.

• Keeping a notebook of questions to explore as you go.

  
  

The important thing is to find a process that helps you move forward, not one that boxes you in. You can always adjust later.

Create a Low-Stakes Writing Habit

Okay, let’s talk about time.

You don’t need to write 1,000 words a day, you don’t need a special cabin in the woods (sorry!) or four uninterrupted hours of silence.

Start small. 20 minutes, a paragraph, or even a single sentence. (By my calculations, if you wrote one sentence a day, you’d have a novel in 11 years.)

Set a timer, put your phone in another room, and write. It doesn’t have to be good. It just has to exist. Your goal isn’t to write something brilliant, it’s to build momentum.

If it helps, think of this like play instead of work. You’re experimenting and exploring. You’re getting your hands dirty in the story.

Give yourself permission to write badly and chase tangents. Sometimes, it’s okay not to know where it’s all going.

Capture Your Ideas, Then Organise Later

As ideas start flowing, you might feel overwhelmed. Where do you keep all these scraps of dialogue, plot twists, setting ideas?

Use whatever system works for you:

• A notebook.

• Voice memos.

• A Google Doc or Scrivener file.

• Sticky notes on your wall.

  
  

Don’t worry about perfect organisation at the start. Just catch the ideas. (Revision is where you can make sense of them.)

If you’re already starting to imagine your book in scenes or chunks, you can try storyboarding on index cards or using tools like Plottr or Notion to visually map it out.

Final Thoughts

Let me say this clearly: You don’t need to feel ready. You just need to begin.

Confidence comes from doing. From showing up again and again (and again), even when it’s hard.

So if you’re thinking, “I’ve had an idea for years but haven’t started,” maybe today is the day.

Start messy and scared. Start with one sentence.

You’ll learn what kind of writer you are by writing. That’s the only way.

And guess what? You’re allowed to enjoy it.

You don’t have to write a masterpiece and you don’t have to get published, but if writing brings you joy, if it helps you make sense of the world, or connect with other people, or express something deep inside, then it’s already worth doing.

If you want a smoother start, you can apply to work with me on my Story Development service. Check it out!