It’s not original to fear the empty page — it’s a writer’s block created by the writer themselves, unable to bypass their self critiques and assumptions of what makes a “good writer.”
I’ve had this Substack for possibly two years now and it has been as barren as the day I made it ever since. I lurk on a few other people’s Substacks but never fully engaging. I’m always on the precipice of posting, then I get in my own way. But why feel this now? When i was a young teen — though still in my own way — I would be able to push past it and post my words online, whether that be on Wattpad or Tumblr.
Somewhere along the way I stopped. Reintroducing myself as the writer I am now just feels like a higher mountain to climb, even if I am writing into the void or for just myself.
But hey, let me be messy. There isn’t a “perfect” way to introduce myself. Time to just let this thing evolve however it wants to evolve.
So hello! I am Billy. I mostly write poetry but occasionally I write fiction. I also like creating art to accompany my words. And we shall see what kind of “Substack Writer” I become along the way.