Humans are born storytellers.

Nowadays we have many tools to write down our thoughts or start a new bestseller. One chooses Google Docs, which pleases with its conservative design like MS Word, another - Dropbox Paper or Medium for its pure minimalism and zero distractions. And even Notes on your Apple device does the trick. But still, many of us struggle with writing. We are literally frozen in front of the blank screen/page and none of our brilliant thoughts can come out. This thing has its own name and it's called fear of a blank page. And I am one of those people who suffer from it.

There was a time when I looked forward to sitting in front of a blank Word document on my computer screen or a blank notebook page, pen in hand. I can still remember my fingers throbbing with pain to write, to make up stories as my fingers darted across the keyboard and danced across the page. Often I would sit there without an idea for a story in my head. I would just start typing a word, a sentence, a paragraph and let the words carry me where they wanted to go. Before I knew it, I had a seven-page short story in my hands.

I do not know what's changed in the last few years. Maybe it's academics. Maybe it's growing up. But I can not remember a time when I have not dreaded the blank page, staring at it for hours, picking apart every word choice and sentence I have written. Always, always I doubt. Is it good enough? Is it a new story or an idea for a poem? Is it worth the public's attention?

School has taught us that there is a formula to writing - that there must be a plot, characters, a climax, a resolution, and more. School has made writing a chore with all its rules and regulations. But that's not the truth. There is no formula for writing. There are no requirements. And I think that's something we need to keep reminding ourselves of as writers.

'Stories' and the way they are told are always being reinvented. Poetry has shown us that you do not always need characters or a plot to tell a story. Virginia Woolf wrote in 'Modern Fiction' that "any method is right that expresses what we want to express." And with her Mrs. Dalloway, she certainly reinvented narrative. Do not be afraid to change the rules of the game. The rules are always changing anyway.

Remember when writing was as natural as combing strands of hair with your fingers? How the words flowed so effortlessly?

Do not be fooled. We are all natural storytellers. Look at the legends, the myths, the folk wisdom and the cave paintings. It has always been a human need to tell and share stories.

It's no different today. Making up and telling stories is in our blood. We have an instinct for it. Do not overthink it. Do not worry so much about the elements you need to include in your text. Believe me when I say that you already know all this and will subconsciously put it in without having to think about it. That's your disposition. It's human nature.

It's all about you, your words and the page. Are you ready? Do not be afraid to let your inner storyteller come out.

Trust that over time you’ll develop a process that works for you.

Go on become the best creative person you can be.

Give yourself permission to bloom.

Just. Write. Now.

What tips and tricks do you have for overcoming the "fear of the blank page"? Comment below!