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Overcoming writer's block
Writer’s block is something we can all face, but there are things you can do to minimise it
Don’t let writer’s block get between you and getting your ideas out there.
Key takeaways
Don’t write your first draft as if it is the final draft. You will have time to refine what you’ve written, but you need to get it on the page first.
If you’re on a writing roll but get stuck, write notes to yourself to address later on and keep writing.
Avoid writing when you’re tired and distracted as it can make progress more difficult.
Writing from notes on a page can be less daunting than staring at a blank page.
Find a writing peer support group; it can help motivate and keep you accountable to deadlines.
Read time: 4 min
Overcoming writer’s block
Have you ever stared at a blank screen and wondered ‘What on earth am I going to write?’ Have you got stuck on your opening paragraph, rewriting it over and over again? Have you sat down to write and, five minutes later, decided that first you really need a coffee, or need to do the washing up, or need to do anything but write?
Rest assured: everyone has. Writer’s block is not unusual and you’re not alone. Here are five tips to overcome it.
1. Stage your writing and lower your expectations
If you write your first draft as if it’s your final draft (perhaps because you haven’t allowed yourself enough time), then every paragraph, every sentence, every word will have to be perfect on the first attempt. That’s a lot of pressure you’re putting yourself under, and it can lead to writing paralysis. It’s much easier to get your thoughts down if you know that no one else is going to read them, that essentially you’re drafting something very rough, very ‘early stage’, just for yourself. So, plan to write multiple drafts (that’s what authors do, plus they have editors!). This means it’s absolutely fine if the first draft is a complete ‘train wreck’. Just relax and let the ideas flow, in whatever order they come into your head. And trust in the process: several drafts later, you’ll have transformed that train wreck into a fine piece of prose.
2. Write notes to yourself when you get stuck
Nothing impedes writing more than stopping every few words to look something up – maybe a reference or a word. To keep your thoughts flowing, just insert a note to yourself, like this – ‘[check Simeon reference]’ or ‘[find better word]’ – then move on. There can, of course, be more complex reasons for getting stuck, such as not quite knowing how to run the argument you want to make. Even in these situations, writing notes to yourself can help, like this: ‘[What I need to do here is first address readers’ concerns about x and y, and then show them the evidence for z]’. You’ll find that this can help overcome a mental impasse.
3. Don’t write when you’re tired or distracted
Writing is very demanding, requiring considerable concentration and mental energy. If you attempt to write when you’re tired and/or can’t concentrate, you’re likely to find yourself going round and round in circles. If you can manage to ‘push through’, well and good. But if you find yourself becoming increasingly frustrated, abort! Go and do some other, less demanding tasks. Get some sleep. Writing is so much easier when you’re well rested and your mind is fresh. A paragraph that seemed impossible to write the day before, can come astonishingly easily to you after a good night’s sleep.
4. Don’t start with a blank page
There’s nothing worse than staring into that white void, waiting for inspiration. There’s a simple solution to this: don’t! Instead, assemble your notes onto the page(s) first, ideally in accordance with a plan (see next point). Then you’ll be editing existing material rather than writing from scratch. In effect, this is a psychological trick you can play on yourself, because editing what exists is usually less confronting than writing what doesn’t, even if in this ‘editing’ process you end up doing lots of new writing!
5. Write to a plan?
Everyone has been taught to develop a plan, or skeleton, before starting to write. It’s obviously a good idea, not least because it allows you to organise any existing material you may have (see previous point). But you may find that, as you write, the plan doesn’t quite work any more because your ideas and argument are evolving somewhat differently to what you expected. This is a very common scenario because writing and thinking are interdependent, iterative processes. So, while it’s advisable to start out with a plan, don’t stop writing when you deviate from it. Keep going, then review what you’ve written. You may find that you went off topic (in which case you can save the material for another time), or you may discover that your original plan needs to be revised.
Writing peer-support groups
Your Discipline, School, Centre, or Network might offer writing peer-support groups like “Shut [or Show!] up and write” sessions. Joining one of these can help you make sure you have protected time allocated to writing about your research.
The Sydney Early-Mid Career Academic Network (SEMCAN) sometimes runs such sessions, but keep an eye on your local research support newsletter for any writing groups in your area. And if nothing exists, why not create your own? It could even count as a leadership activity for your CV or next fellowship application.
Many people swear by the Pomodoro Technique as a way to put structure and focus around the writing process.