Blank is scary.

In my primary line of work, it’s very common to be told to create … something.

Just something. “It’s kinda like this and maybe it says this, but think of it this way.”

“Maybe.”

The assigner rarely knows exactly what that something is. That’s until he sees your creation. Then the assigner knows exactly what that something is. And it’s never what you created.

It’s a horrible cycle.

Get half-heartedly told what to maybe possibly do. Then get ripped apart for guessing incorrectly.

A friend of mine brought up a good point. The process must exist this way. Because people are inherently afraid of blank pages. Putting pen to paper is a horrifying experience akin to laying your palm on a hot stove.

But create a base, put a pan on that stove and fill it with spices and vegetables, and that person, the assignee, has something to critique. To change. To salt up, re-chop, modify and preen and twist and bend and redo.

My boyfriend recently made the same point. People who can’t design can still critique. They are incapable of making something out of nothing. So you must provide and then redo. Endlessly.

“Try this color. Move this line.”

In writing, it’s very similar. “Use this word instead. Get rid of that sentence. No, wait. Just move the sentence. Get rid of all of the adjectives.”

Sometimes the modifications make sense. A lot of the time they do. But a lot of the time they don’t. The assignee just has to make changes simply so his voice is in there somewhere. Even if it sounds like a screeching bird.

So now I’m going to completely erase everything I’ve just written. Go back to a blank page. Because hours after I’ve started writing, I got a direction change. Well, two direction changes within the course of 10 minutes from two different people who most-likely haven’t spoken.

And despite the risks of being incorrect and typing the wrong things, getting two people in a room together to iron down the direction is like trying to build a spaceship out of rubber bands and staples.

So I’ll again attempt to fill this blank page with words. And pray they’re they right ones.