Lesson 17: Avoiding Writer's Block

Okay class, now that we have talked about audience awareness, grammar and mechanics, revising and proofreading tips, let's talk about how to avoid writer's block.

For many people the hardest thing about writing is getting started. They simply just don't know how to begin. They get so stuck on trying to find the right words, they take forever to actually start writing. For some people, writer's block don't come right away, but rather at some later point in the writing process. Some of the reasons that this happens may be because they have run out of things to say, are trying to fill a page/word requirement, can't focus, have been writing for too long at one time, and so on. Here are some suggestions to avoid writer's block.

1. Just put your thoughts down: When you begin writing, especially a first draft, don't worry too much about how the words sounds or how the sentences flow. Simply get your ideas down on paper and go: type or write away. You can fix grammar and content later when you go back and revise your writing. Some people don't even bother with punctuation or paragraphs, opting for a pre-writing type first draft. The assumption that some writers have is that if they get it as polished on the first draft as possible, they won't have to do as much work. However, the opposite may be true. If you are constantly focusing on getting it all perfect, you might inhibit your ability to express your ideas. Plus, you might make writing that paper even longer.

2. Take breaks: Don't sit down and write it all in one sitting. Take breaks every 30 minutes or so (depending on how long you can write at one time and still be productive), even if it is just for a few minutes. Sometimes, you may need to "sleep on it" to really get your mind working again. Like with the previous suggestion, taking breaks may actually help you write that paper faster than if you tried to do it all at once.

Well, I hope that these suggestions are helpful to you as you write your papers. Good luck, and don't sweat it!