New Blank Document

Why are these the three scariest words in the English language? At least for a writer, a blocked writer, they are. For months, years actually, I've been avoiding the act of writing. I used to participate in writing classes at the Writer's Center in Bethesda, a truly great place for fledgling artists -- creative non-fiction, poetry, humor writing, memoir. I've even participated in writing groups that formed out of these classes. So why am I not writing now? Well, it's hard, for one thing. But that's not it. I think there are two better reasons than the difficulty of writing. One is that I don't know what to write about. I always feel that what I have to say has been heard before, totally forgetting that people LIKE to read about subjects they can relate to. The other reason is that I'm afraid to delve deeply into sensitive areas. There I've said it. A writer has to be breathtakingly, boldly honest, or the work will come across as shallow, uninteresting, quite ordinary. You have to touch the reader's heart and not be afraid to touch your own. There is nothing more intimidating than a blank piece of paper or a blank computer screen. But I'm going to try. Wish me luck!