--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never really have blank page syndrome…" description: "\"I never really have blank page syndrome. I don't get blocked. I have a plan for my novel before I start which, although incomplete, probably contains e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ned-beauman-15688_blank_i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome_1601677.png" --- # I never really have blank page syndrome. I don't get… ![“I never really have blank page syndrome. I don't get blocked. I have a plan for my novel before I start which, although incomplete, probably contains enough material for several novels by a quieter kind of writer. And I try to get my arms around that material and see where it takes me.” quote by Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ned-beauman-15688_blank_i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome_1601677.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ned-beauman-15688_blank_i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome_1601677.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ned-beauman-15688_blank_i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome_1601677.png) > “I never really have blank page syndrome. I don't get blocked. I have a plan for my novel before I start which, although incomplete, probably contains enough material for several novels by a quieter kind of writer. And I try to get my arms around that material and see where it takes me.” [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He always starts writing with a detailed outline, preventing writer’s block and allowing fluid development of multiple story ideas. **In simple terms:** He avoids blank page syndrome by planning ahead. Key Takeaway Create a solid outline before writing. Themes creativity planning productivity Mood focused confident Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - writing sessions - novel planning - creative brainstorming Key Concepts outline novel development mental models Questions to Reflect On - How does planning affect spontaneity? - What if the outline feels restrictive? A Different Perspective Even with a plan, unexpected plot issues can arise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Blank page](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/blank-page/) [Novel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/novel/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I realized I had a novel on my hands, but didn't know where it was going to go. So I thought, 'I'm going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hari-kunzru/i-realized-i-had-a-novel-on-my-hands-but-didn-t-know-where-it-was/) [Hari Kunzru](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hari-kunzru/) > [If I had to write a novel, I'd start crying after three lines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-shriver/if-i-had-to-write-a-novel-i-d-start-crying-after-three-lines/) [Pam Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-shriver/) > [This is all you have to do. Sit down once a day to the novel and start working without internal criticism, without debilitating expectations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-mosley/this-is-all-you-have-to-do-sit-down-once-a-day-to-the-novel-and-start/) [Walter Mosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-mosley/) > [“If this were a novel, you'd have to start a new chapter as soon as I appeared.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/if-this-were-a-novel-you-d-have-to-start-a-new-chapter-as-soon-as-i/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [When I write a novel I start each morning by reading for 20 minutes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/when-i-write-a-novel-i-start-each-morning-by-reading-for-20-minutes/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [“The beginning of a novel: start a subject, no matter where, and to have the desire to finish, start with very beautiful phrases.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baudelaire/the-beginning-of-a-novel-start-a-subject-no-matter-where-and-to-have/) [Charles Baudelaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baudelaire/) > [Usually, with a novel, you start with no idea what to do because your job is to create convincing characters and then they just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/usually-with-a-novel-you-start-with-no-idea-what-to-do-because-your/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [As a writer, you always try to imagine, 'What if I were in a situation like this? How would I react?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erik-larson/as-a-writer-you-always-try-to-imagine-what-if-i-were-in-a-situation/) [Erik Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erik-larson/) > [I'm not a very intentional writer. I try to be as unintentional as possible. What I basically try to do is invite the zeitgeist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-gibson/i-m-not-a-very-intentional-writer-i-try-to-be-as-unintentional-as/) [William Gibson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-gibson/) > [When I was thinking about these women characters, no matter how bad a person I am - a bad writer, my limitations, my sexism,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/when-i-was-thinking-about-these-women-characters-no-matter-how-bad-a/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [ \[A writer\] must try to think clearly, to feel deeply, to write honestly. If he is fortunate he will make a living, but his… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-clark-powell/a-writer-must-try-to-think-clearly-to-feel-deeply-to-write-honestly/) [Lawrence Clark Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-clark-powell/) > [I'm still not sure what pulled me into the career I chose, even though, now, I can't imagine having done anything else. Mostly, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gzowski/i-m-still-not-sure-what-pulled-me-into-the-career-i-chose-even-though/) Peter Gzowski > [I don't know when I made that active decision to be a writer or to try to write, but I know I always liked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ridley/i-don-t-know-when-i-made-that-active-decision-to-be-a-writer-or-to/) [John Ridley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ridley/) > [Many years ago... many, many years ago, I brought up a boy, and I said to him, 'Son, if you ever become a writer,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-huston/many-years-ago-many-many-years-ago-i-brought-up-a-boy-and-i-said-to/) [Walter Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-huston/) > [I think my job is to try and be as honest as I can with what is in my mind and how I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-thomas-anderson/i-think-my-job-is-to-try-and-be-as-honest-as-i-can-with-what-is-in-my/) [Paul Thomas Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-thomas-anderson/) ## More by Ned Beauman > [There are probably a couple of things I'd never write about until everyone I know is dead. And then there's other stuff which nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/there-are-probably-a-couple-of-things-i-d-never-write-about-until/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [I would love to learn how to air kiss non-awkwardly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/i-would-love-to-learn-how-to-air-kiss-non-awkwardly/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [Naming one thing after another cannot, logically, increase the chances of the new thing turning out like the old thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/naming-one-thing-after-another-cannot-logically-increase-the-chances/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [“That was how Sinner got his first taste of anything other than the froth on his father's ale. It made you grimace, but if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/that-was-how-sinner-got-his-first-taste-of-anything-other-than-the/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [Politicians often like to suggest that their policies come about through objective thinking, but if you look at British fascists, for example, what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/politicians-often-like-to-suggest-that-their-policies-come-about/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [Plot is tremendously important to me: I can't stand books where nothing happens, and I can't imagine ever writing a novel without at least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/plot-is-tremendously-important-to-me-i-can-t-stand-books-where/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [Until I was 16, I read nothing but science fiction. I loved William Gibson and I still do. But my favourite book when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/until-i-was-16-i-read-nothing-but-science-fiction-i-loved-william/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [“What does it do?" said Loeser. "You feel as if you're being sucked down this fathomless, gloomy tunnel. Or to put it another way,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/what-does-it-do-said-loeser-you-feel-as-if-you-re-being-sucked-down/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [Most romances aren't swept aside by big historical events. Most romances in the history of the world fall apart because of other, smaller happenings.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/most-romances-aren-t-swept-aside-by-big-historical-events-most/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [The simile has to match the tone of its surroundings and has to be like a little joke. Writing a simile that isn't funny…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/the-simile-has-to-match-the-tone-of-its-surroundings-and-has-to-be/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [I'm very finicky about when I'm in the right mood to write. So most days, I find some excuse not to do anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/i-m-very-finicky-about-when-i-m-in-the-right-mood-to-write-so-most/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [“accidents, like women, allude”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/accidents-like-women-allude/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [I love sentences. I love characters. But most of all, perhaps, I love to work on plot, and that may be where my natural…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/i-love-sentences-i-love-characters-but-most-of-all-perhaps-i-love-to/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [You couldn’t truly love anything if you didn’t hate at least something. Indeed, perhaps you couldn’t truly love anything if you didn’t hate almost…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/you-couldn-t-truly-love-anything-if-you-didn-t-hate-at-least/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) > [“The Nazis, he had written in his latest, "are wedded to a sort of aesthetico-moral fallacy, which is that if a man has blond…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/the-nazis-he-had-written-in-his-latest-are-wedded-to-a-sort-of/) [Ned Beauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) [Explore all 42 Ned Beauman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/) ## More Blank quotes > [I have often wondered how they manage to get return envelopes which miss, by one-quarter of an inch, fitting the blank you are supposed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benchley/i-have-often-wondered-how-they-manage-to-get-return-envelopes-which/) [Robert Benchley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benchley/) > [But that quickly faded, and he frowned. "You're bleeding," he said. "What happened?" Claire sighed and held up her wrist to show him the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-caine/but-that-quickly-faded-and-he-frowned-you-re-bleeding-he-said-what/) [Rachel Caine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-caine/) > [I've always been a very restless person. I work hard, spend too much time looking after my son, I dance like a mad thing,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/i-ve-always-been-a-very-restless-person-i-work-hard-spend-too-much/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“When I came back, they gave me blank looks. Some said, 'I don't think I've seen you for days.' Some not even that. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/me-a-selimovi/when-i-came-back-they-gave-me-blank-looks-some-said-i-don-t-think-i/) [Meša Selimović](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/me-a-selimovi/) > [Every man is a missionary, now and forever, for good or for evil, whether he intends or designs it or not. He may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-chalmers/every-man-is-a-missionary-now-and-forever-for-good-or-for-evil/) [Thomas Chalmers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-chalmers/) > [The acting background helped a lot when I started writing. I was training for it. In acting class they teach you about the stakes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-higgins-clark/the-acting-background-helped-a-lot-when-i-started-writing-i-was/) [Carol Higgins Clark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-higgins-clark/) > [The American people reject the idea of giving Washington a blank check to increase the debt limit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-roby/the-american-people-reject-the-idea-of-giving-washington-a-blank/) [Martha Roby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-roby/) > [You wind up creating from silence, like painting a picture on a blank canvas that could bring tears to somebody's eyes. As songwriters, our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-atkins/you-wind-up-creating-from-silence-like-painting-a-picture-on-a-blank/) [Rodney Atkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-atkins/) > [“As I stare at the blank page, I am at once awash inwords but unable to find the ones I want to use.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-ryan/as-i-stare-at-the-blank-page-i-am-at-once-awash-inwords-but-unable-to/) [Carrie Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-ryan/) > [Staring at the blank page before you, Open up the dirty window, Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-bedingfield/staring-at-the-blank-page-before-you-open-up-the-dirty-window-let-the/) [Natasha Bedingfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-bedingfield/) > [Bullies enjoy dark happiness; these are the blank parts that eventually fill their minds with nothingness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-shanks/bullies-enjoy-dark-happiness-these-are-the-blank-parts-that/) Emily Shanks > [History is full of blank spaces, but good stories, invariably, are not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/history-is-full-of-blank-spaces-but-good-stories-invariably-are-not/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) > [If men's minds were like dominoes, surely his would be the double blank.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-g-wodehouse-2/if-men-s-minds-were-like-dominoes-surely-his-would-be-the-double-blank/) [P. G. Wodehouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-g-wodehouse-2/) > [“There isn’t any way to be. I will meet you where you’ve gone. The cards are blank; the cards are empty there. If I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-notley/there-isn-t-any-way-to-be-i-will-meet-you-where-you-ve-gone-the-cards/) [Alice Notley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-notley/) > [I always thought I'd like my own tombstone to be blank. No epitaph, and no name. Well, actually, I'd like it to say 'figment.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/i-always-thought-i-d-like-my-own-tombstone-to-be-blank-no-epitaph-and/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) Browse all 832 Blank quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never really have blank page syndrome. I don't get blocked. I have a plan for my novel before I start which, although incomplete, probably contains enough material for several novels by a quieter kind of writer. And I try to get my arms around that material and see where it takes me.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ned Beauman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome-i-don-t-get-blocked-i-have-a/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Blank" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome-i-don-t-get-blocked-i-have-a/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ned-beauman-15688_blank_i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome_1601677.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ned-beauman-15688_blank_i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome_1601677.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/612/ned-beauman-15688_blank_i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome_1601677.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I never really have blank page syndrome. I don't get blocked. I have a plan for my novel before I start…” — Ned Beauman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ned Beauman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-beauman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I never really have blank page...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome-i-don-t-get-blocked-i-have-a/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-beauman/i-never-really-have-blank-page-syndrome-i-don-t-get-blocked-i-have-a/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```