Facing the Blank Page
David Martin         

Henry Miller wrote, “Writing, like life itself, is a voyage of discovery.”

In Facing the Blank Page, David Martin takes readers on his personal voyage of discovery. His vessel is the blank page where Martin charts his thoughts on writing and the intricate process that shapes an idea into a published piece. As an instructor, he encouraged his students to look closely inside their life experiences and share their life stories. Everyone has a story to tell, but writers must listen closely. Expressing the truth allows the writer “to endure the silence to hear his internal messages.”

Martin pens, “Writing is stress therapy for the gridlocked, an adventure of the mind and heart.” Through his essays, Martin shows that creative motivation leads to the unleashing of words, which are strung together as sentences that formulate the renderings of strong prose and poetry. The essence of language results in a powerful message for readers and students. This lesson resonates through the works in this collection.

The selections are a compilation of Martin’s sweat and tears. As a classroom instructor, he sought to broaden his students’ minds by making the writing process accessible. By studying the world around them, he encouraged students to embrace the world and write about their experiences. Eventually, Martin started Fine Lines, a quarterly literary journal, where all ages could openly share their work.

Martin showcases a wide array of work in the anthology. Essays range from the complexities of the developing an idea to the memory of growing up in a close-knit, well-respected family. In his poetry, Martin uses simple subjects and weaves them into an understandable look at the world in which we live.

While these essays were written as stand-alone pieces, the advice Martin offers proves he is a wise veteran teacher, editor, and writer who guides others to push for excellence. The advice may not be easily woven together, as in Anne Lamott’s Bird by Bird or Stephen King’s On Writing, but anyone who is interested in putting pen to paper will learn from the lessons Martin offers. Everyone has a story; let the inner listener hear and report it.

Facing the Blank Page should be read by anyone who believes in the power of words. Martin takes a no-nonsense approach and produces results. His story is worth listening to and worth repeating.