The blank page. So mysterious, the state of wanting to write but having no vision yet, or having a vision but no words prepared. To me it seems writing is a very conscious process. There is no way to assign the task to the subconscious. Even when using cliches, which are overused and don’t make for the most joyful writing, the creative must still have at least a faint idea of an outline in order to assemble tropes and phrases together. Even if they are a pantser, the writer is conscious of each previous paragraph as they create a new one.
While driving, I often go into autopilot, thinking about groceries, my personal life, or a good movie or video game while my body steers the wheel, brakes the brake, presses the gas. My subconscious picks up the slack while I drive. But not so for writing.
Elements of writing can be handled by the subconscious, sure. For example, most sentences I pen on the page are the first drafts of my mind. I can craft a sentence without pondering “should it be a periodic or a loose sentence? Should it be compound, complex, or simple? And what of the word count?” Generally, my mind fills in what sounds right to me, so I don’t need to ask such questions. But I do need to actively think about previous sentences in order to create a new one.
My subconscious is handy for writing sentences quicker—just plunk down the next set of logical words—but I can craft more powerful sentences by reviewing my arsenal of literary devices, or just playing around with the word choice. Plus, it’s fun to consciously assemble each detail. It’s like cooking a meal, step by step.
What’s another way writing requires conscious awareness? Speech. I’ve discovered I can talk to someone while also typing a paragraph that I’m copying from a notebook. But to talk and craft an entirely unique paragraph is impossible—for me, anyway. Let me know if your experience differs! In my case, the choice is either speech or writing. Both require high awareness on my part. So I have to choose where to point my attention.
The blank page cannot be overcome without effort. Or awareness. The blank page beckons us, compels us to grow as writers.
The Fiction Writer 