Susan and John Ruff, Fantasy Authors

What makes a blank page so daunting for a fiction writer?

It should be an exciting thing — a place with potential for a thousand different stories. The location where any words you choose can find a home. An unspoiled wilderness waiting for your feet to create a path.

Yet, at times, the blank page can feel like a blocked road that forces you to find a way around the gate before you start to hike.

When I was a journalism major in college many years ago, the professor in the newspaper reporting class expected us to start and complete an entire news article during the two-hour class period. The professor explained that newspaper work often involved short deadlines.

At first, the prospect of coming up with a completed news article in such a short time was daunting. Over the semester, the process became easier, and I gradually lost my fear of the blank page.

Much of that experience stayed with me as I started writing fiction. Unlike some authors, I can write “on demand” just by sitting down at the computer and giving myself a goal of typing a certain number of words before I stop for the day. The chapters I produce that way usually require a second draft later, but rewriting is always easier for me than coming up with the first draft.

But every so often that process breaks down.

As the second novel in our cozy fantasy series nears publication, John and I have begun work on the third book. Starting the third novel has been surprisingly difficult. I’m up to almost 6,000 words, but I’m not happy with most of those words. The manuscript contains far too much description and far too little story. I should probably slash about half of what I’ve written.

So, I face the question of how to proceed. Should I continue to plow forward to finish the book and then edit after it’s all done? Or should I make revisions to the first two chapters now and then start writing once more? At this point, I am leaning toward the latter course. I’ll probably pause writing until I am happier with the first two chapters before I continue. Perhaps, that will make the rest of the novel flow more easily.

Sometimes you start down the wrong trail and have to retrace your steps. But that’s fine, as long as you keep walking.

-Susan 8/1/2025