Turning “Nothing” into an Amazing “Something”
Ever feel like that blinking cursor on the screen is mocking you? I’ve been there! Let’s turn that scary white void into your creative playground instead of a battlefield. It’s all about making the first move. Think of it like being afraid to jump into a cold swimming pool. The longer you wait, the scarier it gets. The best way is to just jump! Here’s how we can do that with writing: The 5-Minute Word Splash: This is your secret weapon. It is a tiny, no-pressure commitment. Permission to be Messy: The first draft is just you telling yourself the story. It is allowed to be messy, weird, and full of mistakes! Focus on a Feeling: Don’t think about the whole plot. Just think about one single feeling. Is your character sad? Scared? Excited? Start there. Problem: You’re frozen by the fear of writing the “perfect” first sentence, so you end up writing nothing at all. Solution: Grab your phone or a notebook. Set a timer for just five minutes. Your only goal is to write about your character without stopping. Don’t worry about spelling, grammar, or if it makes sense. Just let the words pour out. You’re simply warming up your imagination engine.
Five Minutes
Splash
Prompt
Here’s a 5-minute splash prompt to get you started. Set a timer for five minutes, grab your notebook or open a blank doc, and just let the words flow—no editing, no backspacing, no judgment.
Prompt:
Your character is standing at the edge of something—maybe a forest, a city, a relationship, or even just their own front door. They’re feeling one strong emotion (you pick: excitement, dread, hope, anger, etc.). What do they see, hear, or smell? What’s running through their mind? What’s the tiniest detail that’s bugging them or making them smile?
And this is how I responded (and after I kept editing, of course):
He closes his eyes and feels the strong wind on his face. Strong enough to make the wood behind him, a wave of flapping like the sound of fish struggling on the fisherman’s boat, trying to get back into the water. A gentle smile, yet the tear starts to drip slowly in the corner of his eye. He opens his eyes for one last look at the stunning scenery. The sun is rising from the horizon of mountains. Bright golden light shines through the dark cloud, like a painting that contrasts with a beautiful yet grey picture. A flashback in the back of his head: his boyfriend had left for another boy. It sucks being jobless; rent is due in a couple of days. Urgh! So frustrated, he feels. What if, one last thing, he could stop the noises in his head if he could have the courage? Hopelessly standing on the edge of the cliff, with one foot in the air. He is waiting for that courageous moment and then jumps.
Suddenly, I had a character with a funny weakness and a clear, immediate problem. The story had begun!
Key
Take-
away
The 5-Minute Word Splash: This is your secret weapon. It is a tiny, no-pressure commitment.
Permission to be Messy: The first draft is just you telling yourself the story. It is allowed to be messy, weird, and full of mistakes!
Focus on a Feeling: Don’t think about the whole plot. Just think about one single feeling. Is your character sad? Scared? Excited? Start there.
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