Writer’s Block

1. Writer’s Block Or, how to get started when you just want the essay to be done already largely taken from the OWL at Purdue, which was taken from Elbow's Writing with Power

2. What is Writer’s Block? • Writer’s block is something that every writer faces from time to time. It can be as simple as not having any ideas, to being stressed out and anxious, or any number of things.

3. Cause 1: No Pre-writing • Try free-writing. Just start writing (or typing) for several minutes without stopping, and see where it takes you. • Start with all the big ideas you have, and then fill in the little ones.

4. Cause 2: “But it’s boor-ing” • Choose part of the topic that does interest you. If the essay is about the Civil War, for instance, maybe there’s one battle you want to focus on. • Talk to your instructor about you might be able to personalize an assignment.

5. Cause 3: “But there’s no time!” • Let’s face it; you’re going to have to do the assignment or be penalized for it. • Try to make a study date with a classmate where you can go out for coffee or a meal and work together, so you’re multi-tasking (cause you do have to eat, too).

6. Cause 4: “I just don’t get it…” • Talk to the instructor and find out exactly what’s expected of you. Your instructor has office hours for a reason. • Ask a classmate. • If there’s a drop-in writing lab available, go talk to a tutor

7. Cause 5: Anxiety • 1. Replace the negative thoughts in your head telling you that you can’t do it with positive ones. • Draw on your strengths. Are you an artist? Sketch out your essay. Are you a musician? Put it to music. • Develop rituals: As an undergraduate, I always wrote with movies playing in the background. While working on my MA, I munched on popcorn and played music. Find what makes you comfortable and helps you think.

8. Cause 6: Stress • STRETCH! Loosen up: go for a walk, do some yoga, take a break. • Try tensing and relaxing various muscle groups at a time, like your calves for 10 seconds, then your fingers, etc. • Breathe deeply. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, hold it, and let it out slowly through your nose. • Find a calming word or image to focus on, but don’t order yourself to “Relax!”

9. Cause 7: “But I’m just not a good writer…” • You are. Trust me. No one’s first draft is ever perfect. • Remind yourself it’s just a draft and you’ll have time to make it better later. • Write down SOMETHING. Even if you think it’s horrible, write it down. • Talk it through with a friend, parent, spouse, kid, etc. This can help generate ideas as well. • Break the task up into small chunks.

10. Other Strategies • Start in the middle. Who says you have to start an essay at the beginning? Leave the intro for last; it’s hard to know what you’re going to say until you’ve said it anyway. • Talk out the paper: find someone willing to listen to you and talk your plan. Have your willing victim participant take notes for you to review later.

11. Even more strategies • If you are an especially verbal or audio oriented person, try tape recording yourself speaking your essay, then transcribe it. It will give you someplace to start. • Change the audience: pretending you’re writing for someone else can help you clarify your purpose. • Pretend to be someone else: this especially helps if you’ve been given a topic that you’re bored with. Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes can help you gain perspective on the topic.