what to do when you're stuck writing an essay

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How to Force Yourself to Finish Your Essay if You Get Stuck

• College Life
• Essay Writing

1. Set the Timer

The deadline that is coming up might be the best motivation for you to continue writing and finishing your essay. If you still have a few hours left until the time when you need to turn your paper in, you might be too relaxed and not motivated enough. So, think of how much time (realistically) you need to finish your essay and set your timer. You will be forced to complete your essay without saying to yourself that you still have plenty of time. By the way, do you know the easy ways of completing an essay ? Check out our tips on it.

2. Turn Your Inner Perfectionist Off

This tip might be tricky. It’s not about completing your essay in a rush and without proper effort, but about making the writing process continue instead of sticking in the middle of a sentence because you think that you can’t come up with, for example, a thesis statement idea that would be genius enough to receive a good grade.

Writing a good essay is a process that usually requires making edits to what you have already written or changing something in your drafts by slowly making it more polished. Never try to make it perfect on your first attempt. Keep writing just as it comes until you reach the needed word count, and look through it later. For now, you just need to complete your first draft. You might have some new ideas once you are looking it through.

Sometimes You Just Need to Relax

Perfectionism is not always suitable. Sometimes, it can be your reason to stop trying because of the fear of not being perfect enough. However, in the case of school papers, sometimes turning in at least any paper is better than none. This is one of the tips that we came up with in our article on how you can stay on top of schoolwork , which you should totally check out.

3. Take a Little Break

Your concentration, productivity, and creativity are tricky and complicated brain processes. You can’t just switch them on like a light in your room. If you are too tired, sleepy, or have been studying for past couple hours, you need to let your brain rest for a while. Set your essay aside and try not to think of it for 15 minutes or so. Do your dishes, listen to music, or even watch an episode of your favorite TV show. Once you come back to your essay, you will be able to have a fresh look at it and see what you can do about it.

Breaks through your study sessions are necessary. As an individual can concentrate for only 45 minutes straight, it’s not productive to pull an all-nighter without giving yourself a little rest. Take a break every hour to keep your concentration up and be more creative with your essay.

4. Use Incentives

When it comes to motivation, incentives can be used in different spheres of life. If you remember your parents promising you a dessert after you finish your dinner, you understand how incentives work.

Now it’s time to become an adult and start working on your motivation yourself. You can think of any kind of reward that you will set for completing your task – finishing your essay. For example, buying clothes that you have seen in a shop, going to a movie theater, or even getting some extra time to sleep in the morning. This strategy will give you extra motivation to finish your essay faster.

5. Get Help

Sometimes you just need a little push or advice. For example, from your friend or a tutor. We are not talking about asking your friend to write an essay for you. But you can always get someone to look through your essay and give you some ideas or drive your attention to the mistakes that you have made.

If you don’t know who you can turn to for help, you can always count on a professional writing team. If you struggle with your deadlines or need assistance with your essay which you have already started, but don’t know how to finish, you can request writing assistance. Writing teams also provide editing and proofreading services to help you polish your essay or structure it better.

6. Distance Yourself from Your Work

A lot of students agree that rereading your essay while working on it makes the process of writing a great essay even more challenging. You might feel disappointed about the parts that you have already written, considering them too banal or rambling.

In this case, it would be better to avoid rereading your text until your draft is completed. Alternatively, try to think of your essay as the piece that was written by someone else. To help yourself do that you might ask your friend to read your essay out loud or use the feature that many text editing programs provide – converting text into speech. So, you can basically listen to your own essay that is read by a computer to help you perceive it more realistically. This will help you avoid being prejudiced or too picky. Moreover, it will give you an understanding of how else you can evaluate your thoughts in your work and how to finish it even if you have no ideas now.

One more tip that every big writer uses is to give yourself time after finishing your draft and coming back to it for editing. Having a fresh look is always useful.

7. Beat Procrastination Starting from the Cause

Understanding why you procrastinate is essential in order to find effective ways to boost your productivity. For example, the reasons might be:

• You have been studying for a while already. The cure: Take a break and let your brain rest for at least 15-20 minutes.
• You can’t come up with any great idea. The cure: read materials related to the topic or have a sweet snack as you might need some extra    sugar for your brainstorming and just start writing what comes to your mind.
• You are too tired or sleepy. The cure: turn music on, drink two glasses of cold water and open your window to get more fresh air. If it doesn’t help, just order an essay from our team and go to bed.
• You are bored. The cure: remind yourself about the importance of this assignment and promise yourself a reward for completing this task (for example, going to a party or having pizza for dinner).
• You can’t concentrate. The cure: avoid distractions; turn off your TV and your phone and find a quiet place for your studying if the atmosphere around you is noisy.

When you understand what gets in the way of your studying process, it’s much easier to eliminate these factors and improve your concentration. It’s not always easy if, for example, your roommate might be making too much noise and distracting you or you might have a headache that makes focusing so much harder. However, eliminating such distractions is the best way not only to complete your paper on time but also improve its quality.

Final Thoughts

We all sometimes get stuck with our work. It might happen because of procrastination, fatigue, or writer’s block, but for a student with tight deadlines, this obstacle might result in a real problem. So, we hope that our tips on how to force yourself to write will come in handy the next time you face such a problem. It’s time to write your essay and finish it on time! Don’t forget to let us know what you do to overcome writer’s block.

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Stuck on Your College Essay? 8 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

←How to Write a Last Minute Essay

11 Tips for Proofreading and Editing Your Essay→

We’ve all had that feeling. You know you have to write an essay, a research paper, or even a story, but you can’t seem to string two thoughts together. It’s frustrating, it’s disheartening, and you don’t know how long it’ll be before inspiration strikes again. 

This familiar feeling is commonly known as “writer’s block”. According to The New Yorker , it was once believed that writer’s block was caused by exhausting one’s supply of inspiration or a lack of external motivation. Now, thanks to the research of Jermone Singer and Michael Barrios, we know that there are four broad causes of writer’s block: 

• Excessively harsh self-criticism 
• Fear of being compared to other writers and their work
• A lake of external motivation such as praise or attention 
• A lack of internal motivation such as a desire to share a story with the world 

No matter which bucket your writer’s block falls under, you are certainly not alone, and you can definitely get your creative juices flowing again. Want to get over your writer’s block? Here are some proven techniques that will help re-inspire your writing. 

Tips For Overcoming Writer’s Block On Your College Essay 

1. freewrite .

A lot of people get stuck on the idea that what they write has to be perfect, and that pressure keeps them from writing down anything at all. If you find yourself feeling that weight on your shoulders, just take a step back for a minute. Give yourself some leeway to write whatever you want on the topic that you’re writing about, even if it’s grammatically incorrect or irrelevant. Just writing something down can often give the mind something to work with, and it can often lead to further inspiration.

Keep in mind that this freewriting can take whatever form you want it to. It can be full sentences, bullet points, even phrases randomly placed on a sheet of paper. Whatever gets your brain thinking in some capacity is a good step in overcoming writer’s block. 

2. Respond to Brainstorm Questions 

What if your writer’s block is so bad that you can’t even come up with a topic or subject for your essay? If you need a place to start, try thinking about something that is not directly related to your college essays. The easiest things to brainstorm are things that you know, like yourself. Here are some easy brainstorm questions to get you thinking: 

• Who are my favorite characters on TV, Literature, and movies? Why are these my favorite characters? 
• What is something that I would join a multi-day protest march for? Is there actually anything that I am passionate about?
• Say I had to start a business selling something, and I would achieve the average level of success (financially, socially, etc) within that business, what would I choose to do?
• What nonprofit or cause would I volunteer for assuming I could not choose an activity that I’ve already done or an activity available in my school?

While these questions may not be immediately relevant to the college essay you’re trying to write, they are introspective questions. So the more you think about answers to these questions, the more you are reflecting on yourself and your goals. If you can start writing down your answers, then you’re already well on your way to writing a personal statement or explaining your interests and passions to colleges.

3. Talk It Out With A Friend 

College essays always ask you to reflect on yourself, and who knows you better than some of your closest friends? While they shouldn’t write your essay for you, they can be a good sounding board for ideas while giving you some ideas of their own. Try contacting someone you trust and asking them how they would answer the essay prompt if they were answering it for you. See what comes to their mind. They may bring up an interesting approach to an essay that you hadn’t even thought about, or remind you about an aspect of yourself that you hadn’t already considered. Their ideas could help spark your ideas. 

Keep in mind, this doesn’t have to be a friend. It could be a close relative, a neighbor, or even a teacher. You just need to talk to somebody who knows you well and can give you insight on how you should approach the essay, not how they would. 

4. Read a Memoir or Listen To a Podcast 

Inspiration tends to fuel inspiration, and what better way to get inspired to write a creative essay about yourself than to read/listen to others’ creative essays about themselves. Perhaps listening to people tell their stories will give you some ideas on how you can tell your story for your college essays. 

People share their stories in a variety of ways, both offline and online. You could read the personal memoir of someone who inspires you, or of someone whose story you relate to. If you want something that takes a little bit less time, you could listen to a podcast or watch a TED Talk of people telling their stories. Some other places to find inspiration are The New York Times’ Modern Love column or stories from The Moth . Most of the above are short and quick and could possibly spark inspiration for your own essay. 

5. Change Your Environment 

Maybe it’s not that you lack ideas or inspiration. Maybe you just can’t, for whatever reason, seem to get your ideas down on paper. That’s totally normal, and there’s a chance that your environment has something to do with it. If you’ve been brainstorming in your room for hours or if you’re not comfortable wherever you are, it’s going to be very difficult for you to be able to write creatively and vulnerably. 

Try going somewhere else to write, preferably somewhere with fresh air and sunshine. A simple change of scenery can be surprisingly helpful in getting your brain to work again and letting the creativity come through. As long as you’re peaceful and comfortable wherever you go, it’s a good place to be writing. 

6. Get Some Exercise 

It is commonly accepted that exercise releases endorphins and other helpful chemicals that stimulate your brain and keep you happy. In this way, exercise can be very beneficial in the writing process. If you’re feeling frustrated because of your writer’s block, exercise can lift your mood and give you a much-needed break. If you’re struggling to come up with ideas, the chemicals in your brain can help spark some creative inspiration for your essay. 

Of course, it might be a little bit difficult to go for a run or get exercise if you’re staying at home. Just remember that no form of exercise is better than another, and exercise doesn’t have to take up a lot of space. Do some jumping jacks in place, find an apartment-friendly workout video online, or just put on some music and dance in your room. The key is to get your body moving.

7. Use a Pen and Paper 

Most students type their essays on computers instead of writing them down, and this makes sense. Almost all college applications are submitted online now, and it’s easier to share your essays with others for editing. 

That being said, typing your essays may not be the best idea if you’re experiencing writer’s block. The blank screen in front of you may be a psychological deterrent to your creativity, and the internet may serve as a huge distraction. 

If you find yourself unable to come up with something to write on a computer, try going old school and writing your ideas with a pen and paper. If you don’t have any of that around, try jotting down some ideas on a dry erase board or chalkboard. Writing your ideas instead of typing them encourages you to jot down shorter ideas and think in an entirely different way. This can be a beneficial switch for your brain as you attempt to overcome your writer’s block.

8. Work On A Different Section 

Who says that you have to write your essay from start to finish? If you are having trouble coming up with the beginning, write the end or start somewhere in the middle! If you have an idea of what you want to say and how you want the essay to flow, you can write it down in whatever order you want. Write down the parts that come easiest to you and circle back to the parts you haven’t quite figured out yet. This way, you’ll at least have something written down, and you can use that something to inspire you to write the other parts of your essay later. 

Again, your essay does not have to be perfect on the first draft. If the different parts of your essay don’t seem to fit together because you wrote them at different times, that’s okay. At least you’ll have all of the parts written down, and you can edit from there. 

Want help with your college essays to improve your admissions chances? Sign up for your free CollegeVine account and get access to our essay guides and courses. You can also get your essay peer-reviewed and improve your own writing skills by reviewing other students’ essays.

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March 13, 2019, by Alina

Tips on writing an essay that you’re completely stuck on

Regardless of whether you’re a fresher who is stumped on an essay relating to a topic that you’ve never even though about, let alone know much about, or whether you’re a final year student that currently has mush for a brain due to processing endless information for your other modules, we can all get stuck on an essay but there are things that you can do to overcome that barrier! I’ve put together a few tips which should help you change the way you see your essay, and hopefully will aid you in graduating with that wonderful 2:1 that we all think about!

Try to enjoy it!

Don’t sigh at your screen at this one, it can actually help! I recently overcame a week-long slump relating to writing up my dissertation, and at the end of the week I was completely disheartened! However, I remembered that I had chosen my topic  for a reason.  That reason being that I enjoyed it and found it interesting! Try to find elements of the topic that interest you and engage your brain into thinking ‘how can I actually have fun with this?’. You’re much likely to be a little more proactive with the essay and it can help you come up with different ideas that you would never have originally thought of.

What does everyone else think of the topic?

Ask everyone! Ask your friends, family members, people on your course, your lecturers – anyone! Try to find out what other people have to say on your topic and start looking at where you stand amongst their opinions. Remember to use NUsearch (www.nusearch.nottingham.ac.uk) to find reliable sources for your essay, and start browsing at what academic literature exists surrounding your topic. It can be interesting to what many authors agree or disagree on, and you can then use these arguments to form your own argument. It also shows extensive reading which is likely to be outside of your original reading list which can help you grab those extra marks!

Little by little…

If you have a day where you have completely ran out of ideas and have no idea on how to approach the question, then come back to it the next day! During my crisis last week, I ended one day with tears after a sadly unproductive day at the library, but, the next day I somehow came up with a different approach and was able to be focused on completing another section of my dissertation! You cannot force your brain to come up with a new idea, however, with some rest and some time to reflect on it you’re more likely to have a better chance at achieving it the next day. This is also a reason to start working on your essay earlier, rather than later, as it gives you that extra time to reflect and come back to it if needs be!

Good luck with your essays – remember that all the stress of it will be over after the deadline date! 🙂

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21 Best Ways To Write Essays When You Are Stuck [Examples]

Ever stared at a blank page and felt it stare back, mocking your essay-writing woes? Me, too.

Here is a quick summary of ways to write essays when you are stuck:

Write an essay when you are stuck by using techniques like mind mapping for ideas, freewriting to overcome writer’s block, starting with anecdotes or quotes for inspiration, reverse engineering from the conclusion, and breaking the task into manageable parts. Match solution to the sticking point.

Keep reading to learn all the best tips to turn these ways into a finished essay your teacher or professor loves.

21 Tips for Getting Unstuck When Writing An Essay

Table of Contents

Unleashing your creative flow might just be a few strategic steps away.

Whether it’s a college assignment or a personal project, these 21 techniques, peppered with personal insights and practical examples, will guide you through the maze of writer’s block.

1. Mind Map Magic

When words fail you, turn to visuals. Create a mind map, starting with your essay topic at the center.

Branch out with related ideas, themes, and arguments.

This visual brainstorming technique often unlocks new perspectives.

For instance, if you’re writing about climate change, start with that in the middle, and branch out to subtopics like “impact on wildlife,” “government policies,” and “green technology.”

Seeing the connections visually can spark new ideas.

2. Freewrite Frenzy

Set a timer for 10 minutes and just write.

No editing, no judging. Let your thoughts flow freely. This method helps in silencing the inner critic that often hampers creativity.

If your essay is about “Modern Art,” start by writing whatever comes to mind when you think about the topic.

It could be a mix of facts, personal opinions, or random thoughts.

The key is to keep the pen moving.

3. The Anecdote Anchor

Start your essay with a personal story or a relevant anecdote.

It not only grabs attention but also makes the writing process more relatable and less daunting.

For example, if you’re writing about “The Importance of Mental Health,” begin with a brief personal story about a time when mental health affected you or someone close to you.

This approach can set a strong foundation for your essay.

4. Quote Quest

Find a quote that resonates with your essay topic.

Use it as a launching pad for your ideas. A relevant quote can provide a fresh perspective and a solid starting point.

For an essay on “Leadership Qualities,” you might start with a quote from a renowned leader, and then expand on how it relates to your understanding of leadership.

5. The Dialogue Drill

Inject a hypothetical or real conversation into your essay.

This technique adds a lively, human touch to your writing. For instance, if you’re discussing “Technological Advancements,” include a dialogue between two tech experts debating the impacts of a new technology.

This not only makes your essay engaging but also helps in exploring different viewpoints.

6. Reverse Engineering

Start from the conclusion.

Write down what you want your reader to take away from your essay, and work backwards to build your arguments.

This method provides a clear direction for your essay.

If your conclusion is that “Education should be more accessible,” begin by outlining the reasons why it’s not currently accessible and how that can be changed.

7. The Question Cue

Pose a thought-provoking question related to your essay topic.

This approach can help in focusing your thoughts and engaging your readers.

For an essay on ‘Social Media Influence,’ you might start by asking, “How has social media reshaped our perception of reality?”

This sets a curious tone for the essay.

8. Sensory Detail Dive

Describe a scene or an object with rich sensory details to set the stage for your essay.

This method is particularly effective for descriptive essays.

If you’re writing about a place, like “The Amazon Rainforest,” start by vividly describing the sounds, sights, and smells of the forest.

This immersive technique draws readers into your essay.

9. The Historical Hook

Begin with a historical event or figure that relates to your essay topic.

This approach adds depth and context to your writing.

For an essay on “Women’s Rights,” you might start with a brief overview of a significant historical event in the women’s rights movement.

This not only grounds your essay in history but also shows its relevance.

10. The Opposite Opinion

Start by presenting a viewpoint opposite to the one you plan to argue.

This counterintuitive approach can make your essay more dynamic and thought-provoking.

For example, if you are writing in support of “Renewable Energy,” begin by explaining the arguments against it.

This sets the stage for you to counter these points with your own arguments.

11. The Future Forecast

Project your topic into the future.

Speculate on what might happen if current trends continue or if certain changes are implemented.

This forward-thinking approach can be a powerful tool for argumentative essays.

If you’re writing about “Climate Change,” begin by painting a picture of what the workplace might look like in 20 years.

12. The Personal Puzzle

Reflect on how the essay topic has personally impacted you or someone you know.

This introspective technique makes your writing more personal and relatable.

For instance, if your essay is about “Living with Diabetes,” share a personal account of the daily challenges faced by someone with diabetes.

This not only adds a human element to your essay but also provides a real-life context to the issue.

13. The Metaphor Method

Use a metaphor to frame your essay topic.

This creative approach can offer a unique perspective and make complex topics more accessible.

Writing about “Internet Privacy?” Compare it to a fortress, highlighting how our digital information needs strong defenses.

This metaphor can guide the structure of your essay, making it both engaging and insightful.

14. The Problem Solver

Identify a problem related to your topic and propose a solution in your essay.

This approach is particularly effective for persuasive essays.

For example, if your essay is about “Reducing Your Carbon Footprint,” start by outlining a specific environmental problem, like excessive use of plastic, and then propose practical solutions.

This method not only presents a clear thesis but also demonstrates critical thinking.

15. The Expert’s Echo

Reference the opinion or work of an expert in the field related to your essay topic.

This lends credibility and depth to your writing.

If your essay is on “Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare,” you might start by citing a leading AI researcher’s opinion or finding.

This not only shows thorough research but also frames your essay within current expert discourse.

16. The Contrasting Comparison

Draw a comparison between two contrasting ideas or phenomena related to your essay topic.

This method helps in highlighting the nuances of your topic.

In an essay about “Traditional vs. Modern Education Methods,” start by describing the key features of each approach.

This sets the stage for a deeper analysis of their impacts and effectiveness.

17. The Cultural Context

Examine how your topic is viewed or affected by different cultures.

This approach adds a global perspective to your essay.

Writing about “Food Security?” Discuss how different cultures tackle this issue. This not only broadens the scope of your essay but also encourages cultural understanding.

18. The Time Travel Technique

Take your readers back in time to understand the roots of your topic.

This historical approach provides context and depth.

For an essay on “The Evolution of Music Genres,” begin with a brief history of a specific genre.

This historical backdrop sets the stage for discussing its contemporary relevance and transformations.

19. The Future Flash

Imagine a future scenario related to your essay topic.

This speculative technique can be quite engaging. Writing about “Climate Change?” Start by depicting a future world affected by climate change.

This approach not only highlights the urgency of the issue but also encourages readers to think critically about future implications.

20. The Parallel Path

Draw parallels between your topic and an unrelated subject.

This technique can offer fresh insights.

For an essay on “Economic Inequality,” you might compare it to a game where the rules are skewed in favor of some players.

This analogy helps in explaining complex concepts in a more relatable manner.

21. The Challenge Challenge

Present a challenge related to your topic and explore ways to overcome it.

This method is great for problem-solution essays.

For example, if your essay is about “Overcoming Language Barriers in Communication,” start by presenting a specific communication challenge and then explore various solutions.

Watch this video about how to get unstuck when writing an essay:

Matching Stuck Points with Solutions

Here is how to match your specific sticking points with solutions:

Each of these techniques is designed to unlock your writing potential and guide you through the challenging process of essay writing.

Remember, the key to overcoming writer’s block is to approach it with a creative mindset and a willingness to experiment with different strategies.

How To Figure Out Why You Can’t Finish An Essay

Struggling to complete an essay is a common problem, often rooted in a few identifiable causes.

To figure out why you can’t finish an essay, start by examining your understanding of the topic. If it’s inadequate, dedicate time to more research.

Next, assess your essay plan.

A lack of a clear structure can leave you wandering in a forest of ideas. Create an outline with distinct sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. Also, consider your writing environment.

Distractions, whether physical or digital, can significantly hinder progress.

Create a workspace that’s conducive to concentration. Additionally, reflect on your personal connection to the topic.

Lack of interest can sap motivation, so find an angle that resonates with you personally.

Finally, be mindful of perfectionism.

The fear of not writing something outstanding can paralyze your progress.

Embrace the idea that a first draft doesn’t have to be perfect but just needs to be written.

How to Force Yourself To Write an Essay

Forcing yourself to write an essay, especially when motivation is low, requires a mix of discipline and strategy.

Set specific, achievable goals, like writing a certain number of words or for a specific time period each day.

Break down the essay into smaller, manageable sections and tackle them one at a time.

This reduces the feeling of being overwhelmed by the task as a whole.

A good way to work is the Pomodoro Technique : you work for 25 minutes and then rest for 5 minutes. This helps your brain stay sharp and stops you from getting too tired.

This keeps your mind fresh and prevents burnout.

Create a conducive writing environment, free from distractions, to maintain focus.

Sometimes, changing your environment can also stimulate creativity.

Additionally, commit to a reward system.

Treat yourself after reaching certain milestones, whether it’s a small treat or a short break.

Lastly, hold yourself accountable. Tell someone about your writing goal or partner with a peer who is also working on a project.

This external accountability can significantly boost your commitment to the task.

Final Thoughts: Ways to Write Essays When You Are Stuck

Just like a good book, every stuck essay has a plot twist waiting to unfold — you just need to keep writing the story.

For more writing tips, take a quick look at one of our other articles below.

Read This Next:

• How To Get Unstuck When Writing a Vision Statement [13 Ways]
• How To Overcome Writer’s Block (20 Tricks That Really Work)
• Best AI Essay Writer (With Examples)
• 50 Best Counterclaim Transition Words (+ Examples)

American Psychological Association (APA) – Research on the Science of Creativity

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

What to Do When You Are Stuck

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First, know that it is normal to feel stuck. This is what we call writer’s block . Sometimes you just do not know what to say next when you write. If this happens to you, try some of these ideas:

• Do not panic. Remember, feeling “stuck” is normal even for the most experienced writers. Think of your favorite author. He or she experienced writer’s block at some point, too.
• (If your paper is on the computer) Try handwriting the next part with a pen or pencil. Or, even try writing with something fun, like a gel pen or crayon.
• Take a step away from the writing. This will clear your mind. Take a walk, ride your bike, pet your dog, call a friend, etc.. Whenever possible, try not to force ideas.
• Start early with the writing process. If a teacher assigns a paper that is due in a week, start inventing right away. This will help you avoid forcing ideas or simply writing the first thing that comes to mind, even if it is not very good.
• Talk about your paper with a friend or family member, or even talk to the family pet.
• Talk with your teacher about his or her ideas to get “unstuck.”
• Have patience. Coming up with ideas takes time. Sometimes it takes a lot of time .
• Know that you can always change your ideas before you turn in the final draft of your writing.
• Try listening to music while you come up with ideas. While this might distract some writers, many writers find that music helps ideas flow. Try your favorite music or music that you think is calming.
• Do not worrying about grammar and spelling when you invent and write your first draft.
• Trust your voice and ideas. Do not compare yourself with other people and their work. Know that you have something special to say and your unique way of saying it.

See the Symptoms and Cures for Writer’s Block resource on the Purdue OWL for more information about beating the block.

Let's Be Game Changers

5 Tips for Essay Writing When You’re Stuck

June 9, 2021

One of the worst things a writer can experience is sitting down to write and being unable to finish an idea. One minute you have the brain juices flowing, then all of a sudden your gears come to a grinding halt.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not the only one. Writer’s block happens to the best of us, and essay writing is the biggest culprit.

However, there are some ways around writer’s block.

Here are five tips to follow when your writing is stuck and you can’t get out.

1. Have A Plan

First things first, when you go to sit down to write you should have a plan of execution. Create a general outline that you want to follow to maximize your time on your essay.

No, you don’t have to strictly follow the outline. It just acts as a parameter to keep you on track because it’s hard to come back from the white abyss that is a black sheet on a word doc.

2. Work On the Main Ideas First

If you have an outline and you are stuck, then it would be great to start writing about the main ideas first. The main topics are easy to write in an essay format and give you the opportunity to expound on them.

This makes your job easier and breaks through the writer’s block on your essay relatively easily.

3. Seek Out Some Help

There’s no shame in admitting defeat. You’re not the first nor the last to be bested by your college essay. So it’s also okay to seek help when you need it.

This can come in many forms; you can ask a friend to help you bounce ideas, you can ask a professor or a teaching assistant to proofread, or you can use  this service  to help you write your article.

4. Come Back to It

Sometimes it’s best for you to leave everything on the paper and take a break from it. It’s better for your sanity, and probably better for the paper as well.

Get something to eat, take a nap, use the bathroom, whatever and take your mind off of it. When you come back with a fresh mind and a fresh set of eyes , you most likely will be able to break the writer’s block.

5. Just Write

Sometimes it’s good to leave everything on the paper, other times it’s good to work straight through the writer’s block.

This tactic can feel like the unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, but in dire situations this is the only recourse. It might hurt, but in the end you will be better for it.

Essay Writing Done Right

Essay writing can be difficult at times, and made even harder when writer’s block hits you hard. But with these five tips, you won’t have to worry about that standing in your way of some quality writing. Don’t let writer’s block beat you.

For other informative and interesting articles like this one, be sure to browse the rest of our blog.

Procrastination

The art of writing is the art of applying the seat of the pants to the seat of the chair. —Mary Heaton Vorse

What this handout is about

This handout will help you understand why you procrastinate and offer strategies to combat this common writer’s ailment.

Introduction

Everyone procrastinates. We put things off because we don’t want to do them, or because we have too many other things on our plates. Putting things off—big or small—is part of being human. If you are reading this handout, however, it is likely that your procrastination is troubling you. You suspect that you could be a much better writer if only you didn’t put off writing projects until the last minute. You find that just when you have really gotten going on a paper, it’s time to turn it in; so, you never really have time to revise or proofread carefully. You love the rush of adrenaline you get when you finish a paper ten minutes before it’s due, but you (and your body) are getting tired of pulling all-nighters. You feel okay about procrastinating while in college, but you worry that this habit will follow you into your working life.

You can tell whether or not you need to do something about your procrastination by examining its consequences. Procrastination can have external consequences (you get a zero on the paper because you never turned it in) or internal consequences (you feel anxious much of the time, even when you are doing something that you enjoy). If you put off washing the dishes, but the dishes don’t bother you, who cares? When your procrastination leaves you feeling discouraged and overburdened, however, it is time to take action.

Is there hope?

If you think you are a hopeless procrastinator, take heart! No one is beyond help. The fact that you procrastinate does not mean that you are inherently lazy or inefficient. Your procrastination is not an untamable beast. It is a habit that has some specific origin, and it is a habit that you can overcome. This handout will help you begin to understand why you procrastinate and give you some strategies for turning things around. For most procrastinators, however, there are no quick fixes. You aren’t going to wake up tomorrow and never procrastinate again. But you might wake up tomorrow and do one or two simple things that will help you finish that draft a little earlier or with less stress.

You may not be surprised to learn that procrastinators tend to be self-critical. So, as you consider your procrastination and struggle to develop different work habits, try to be gentle with yourself. Punishing yourself every time you realize you have put something off won’t help you change. Rewarding yourself when you make progress will.

If you don’t care why you procrastinate—you just want to know what to do about it—then you might as well skip the next section of this handout and go right to the section labeled “What to do about it.” If you skip to the strategies, however, you may only end up more frustrated. Taking the time to learn about why you procrastinate may help you avoid the cycle whereby you swear up and down that you will never procrastinate again, only to find that the next time you have a paper due, you are up until 3 a.m. trying to complete the first (and only) draft—without knowing why or how you got there.

Why we do it

In order to stop putting off your writing assignments, it is important to understand why you tend to do so in the first place. Some of the reasons that people procrastinate include the following:

Because we are afraid

• Fear of failure: If you are scared that a particular piece of writing isn’t going to turn out well, then you may avoid working on it in order to avoid feeling the fear.
• Fear of success: Some procrastinators (the author of this handout included) fear that if they start working at their full capacity, they will turn into workaholics. Since we procrastinate compulsively, we assume that we will also write compulsively; we envision ourselves locked in a library carrel, hunched over the computer, barely eating and sleeping and never seeing friends or going out. The procrastinator who fears success may also assume that if they work too hard, they will become mean and cold to the people around them, thus losing their capacity to be friendly and to have fun. Finally, this type of procrastinator may think that if they stop procrastinating, then they will start writing better, which will increase other people’s expectations, thus ultimately increasing the amount of pressure they experience.
• Fear of losing autonomy: Some people delay writing projects as a way of maintaining their independence. When they receive a writing assignment, they procrastinate as a way of saying, “You can’t make me do this. I am my own person.” Procrastinating helps them feel more in control of situations (such as college) in which they believe that other people have authority.
• Fear of being alone: Other writers procrastinate because they want to feel constantly connected to other people. For instance, you may procrastinate until you are in such a bind that someone has to come and rescue you. Procrastination therefore ensures that other people will be involved in your life. You may also put off writing because you don’t want to be alone, and writing is oftentimes a solitary activity. In its worst form, procrastination itself can become a companion, constantly reminding you of all that you have to do.
• Fear of attachment: Rather than fearing separation, some people procrastinate in order to create a barrier between themselves and others. They may delay in order to create chaos in their lives, believing that the chaos will keep other people away.

Whether these fears appear in our conscious or subconscious minds, they paralyze us and keep us from taking action, until discomfort and anxiety overwhelms us and forces us to either a) get the piece of writing done or b) give up. (The preceding is a summary of Chapters 2-4 of Jane B. Burka and Lenora M. Yuen’s Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It.)

Because we expect ourselves to be perfect

Procrastination and perfectionism often go hand in hand. Perfectionists tend to procrastinate because they expect so much of themselves, and they are scared about whether or not they can meet those high standards. Perfectionists sometimes think that it is better to give a half-hearted effort and maintain the belief that they could have written a great paper, than to give a full effort and risk writing a mediocre paper. Procrastinating guarantees failure, but it helps perfectionists maintain their belief that they could have excelled if they had tried harder. Another pitfall for perfectionists is that they tend to ignore progress toward a goal. As long as the writing project is incomplete, they feel as though they aren’t getting anywhere, rather than recognizing that each paragraph moves them closer to a finished product.

Because we don’t like our writing

You may procrastinate on writing because you don’t like to re-read what you have written; you hate writing a first draft and then being forced to evaluate it, in all its imperfection. By procrastinating, you ensure that you don’t have time to read over your work, thus avoiding that uncomfortable moment.

Because we’re too busy

Practical concerns: jobs, other classes, etc.

Because it works

Unfortunately, procrastination helps reinforce itself. When we avoid doing something we dread (like writing) by doing something we enjoy (such as watching TV, hanging out with friends, etc.), we escape the dreaded task. Given such a choice, it’s no wonder that many of us choose to procrastinate. When we write a paper at the last minute and still manage to get a good grade, we feel all the more compelled to procrastinate next time around.

What to do about it

Now that you know a little bit about why you may have procrastinated in the past, let’s explore some of the strategies you might use to combat your procrastination tendencies, now and in the future. Experiment with whichever of these strategies appeals to you; if you try something and it doesn’t work, try something else! Be patient; improvement will come with practice.

Take an inventory

Figuring out exactly when and how you procrastinate can help you stop the behavior. It can be difficult to tell when you are procrastinating. Think about the clues that tell you that’s what you’re doing: for example, a nagging voice in your head, a visual image of what you are avoiding or the consequences of not doing it, physical ailments (stomach tightness, headaches, muscle tension), inability to concentrate, inability to enjoy what you are doing.

How do you procrastinate?

• Try to ignore the task, hoping against hope that it will go away?
• Over- or under-estimate the degree of difficulty that the task involves?
• Minimize the impact that your performance now may have on your future?
• Substitute something important for something really important? (For example, cleaning instead of writing your paper.)
• Let a short break become a long one, or an evening in which you do no work at all? (For example, claiming that you are going to watch TV for ½ hour, then watching it all night.)
• Focus on one part of the task, at the expense of the rest? (For example, keep working on the introduction, while putting off writing the body and conclusion).
• Spend too much time researching or choosing a topic

Once you better understand how you procrastinate, you will be better able to catch yourself doing it. Too often, we don’t even realize that we are procrastinating—until it’s too late.

Create a productive environment

If you have made the decision to stop delaying on a particular writing project, it is critical that you find a place to work where you have at least half a chance of actually getting some writing done. Your dorm room may not be the place where you are most productive. Ditto the computer lab. If you have a laptop computer, try going someplace where you can’t connect to the Internet (e-mail and the Web are the bane of the procrastinator’s existence—as you probably already know). If you are a procrastinator, then chances are you are already pretty exasperated; don’t risk frustrating yourself even more by trying to write in an environment that doesn’t meet your needs.

CAUTION: The most skilled procrastinators will be tempted to take this suggestion too far, spending an inordinate amount of time “creating a productive environment” (cleaning, filing, etc.) and not nearly enough time actually writing. Don’t fall into that trap! While cleaning and filing are indeed worthy and necessary activities, if you only do this when you have an approaching writing deadline, then you are procrastinating.

While you are thinking about where to write, consider also when you will write. When are you most alert? Is it at 8 a.m., mid-morning, mid-afternoon, early evening, or late at night? Try to schedule writing time when you know you will be at your best. Don’t worry about when you “should” be able to write; just focus on when you are able to write.

Challenge your myths

In order to break the procrastination habit, we need to get past the idea that in order to write, we must have all the information pertaining to the topic, and we must have optimal writing conditions. In reality, writers never have all the information, and conditions are never optimal.

Think of a writing project that you are currently putting off. On one side of a piece of paper, write down all the reasons for your delay. On the other side, argue (as convincingly as possible!) against the delay.

Myth #1: “I can’t function in a messy environment. I can’t possibly write this paper until I have cleaned my apartment.”

Challenge: There are no conditions that are necessary in order for you to write, save two: 1) You must have a writing implement (e.g., a keyboard or a pen) and 2) you must have someplace for writing to go, such as into a computer or onto a piece of paper. If, when faced with a writing project, you start piling up prerequisites for all the things you must do before you can possibly start writing, consider whether you might in fact be making excuses—in other words, procrastinating.

Myth #2: “I know it’s time for me to start writing, but I just haven’t done enough research yet. I’ll spend one more night at the library, and then I’ll start writing my paper.”

Challenge: Truth be told, you will never collect all the information you possibly could for your paper. Better to write a tightly-crafted argument with the information you have NOW, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, than to keep doing research and risk throwing your paper together at the last minute.

Myth #3: “I do my best work under pressure.”

Challenge: There are lots of other ways to create pressure for yourself, besides waiting until the night before the paper is due to start writing it. You can set a time limit for yourself—for example, “I will write this paragraph in ½ hour”—or you can pretend that the paper is a timed essay exam. If you do this a week or two before the paper is due, you’ll have a draft in plenty of time to revise and edit it.

Myth #4: “In order to work on my paper, I must have six uninterrupted hours.”

Challenge: You can and should work on a paper in one hour blocks (or shorter). This will help you break the writing task down into smaller pieces, thereby making it seem more manageable. If you know that you can work on one part of the paper for one hour, then it won’t seem so daunting, and you will be less likely to procrastinate.

Some writers find, however, that they do need longer blocks of time in order to really produce anything. Therefore, like all of the strategies outlined here, if this one doesn’t work for you, throw it out and try something else. You might still find, however, that you are more productive when you plan to write “all morning” rather than “all day.”

Myth #5 : “What I write has to be perfect, ” AND/OR “I can’t write anything until I have a perfect thesis statement/intro.”

Challenge: A first draft (or a second, or a third, or even—egad!—the final product) does not have to be perfect. When we write an early draft, we need to turn off our internal critic and just get some words down on the page. The great thing about starting early on a writing project is that it leaves us plenty of time for revision, editing, and proofreading; so, we can set ourselves free to just let our writing flow, without worrying about sentence-level concerns such as grammar, punctuation, and style. You’ll find some other thoughts on editing in our video on proofreading and our handout on revision .

Break it down

The day you get the paper assignment (ideally), or shortly thereafter, break the writing assignment up into the smallest possible chunks. By doing this, the paper never has a chance to take on gargantuan proportions in your mind. You can say to yourself, “Right now, I’m going to write the introduction. That’s all, just the introduction!” And you may be more likely to sit down and do that, than you will to sit down and “write the paper.”

Get a new attitude

We shoot ourselves in the foot, to begin with, by telling ourselves how horrible a particular writing assignment is. Changing our attitude toward the task, when possible, may go a long way toward keeping us from procrastinating. Tell yourself that the task isn’t so bad or difficult, that you either know how to do it, or that you can learn how while you’re doing it. You may find, too, that if you start early on a particular assignment, your attitude never has a chance to get very negative in the first place! Simply starting to write can often help us feel more positive about writing.

Ask for help

• Get an anti-procrastination coach. If you are really determined not to procrastinate, then get help from the supportive people in your life. Tell someone about your writing goal and timeline, and ask them to help you determine whether or not your plan is realistic. Once or twice a week, email with a friend, relative, or mentor, in order to report (admit?) on your progress, and declare your promise for the next week (or few days). If, despite your very good intentions, you start procrastinating again, do not think, “All is lost!” Instead, talk to someone about it. They may be able to help you put your slip into perspective and get back on track.
• Get a buddy. See if you can find a friend to work alongside you. They don’t have to be writing a paper; in fact, they can be playing Solitaire, for all you care. What matters is that you arrange to meet them at the library (or wherever you have decided to write) at a particular time and stay there for a specific period of time, thus creating accountability.
• Get help with your writing. If you are procrastinating because you think you are a weak writer, then ask someone (a Writing Center writing coach, a current or former professor or teaching assistant, a friend) to help you improve.
• Form a writing group. A writing group is a great way for undergraduate and more advanced writers alike to create accountability, get feedback, and simply get reminded that you are not alone in the struggle to produce and to improve your writing. See our writing group packet at for more information on how to form and sustain a writing group. Dissertation writers may benefit not only from joining a writing group but also from reading our handout on the dissertation . This handout was written by a former Writing Center staff member who eventually completed her dissertation.

Get unblocked

Sometimes, we procrastinate because we feel stuck on a particular essay or section of an essay. If this happens, you have several options:

• Turn off the screen. Type with a dark screen, so you can’t see what you’ve written, decide you don’t like it, and delete it immediately. Sometimes procrastination stems from insecurity about what to say, or whether we have anything to say. The important thing, in that case, is to get started and KEEP GOING. Turning off the screen may help lessen your fear and turn off your internal critic. When you turn it back on (or print out what you’ve written), you may find that you do have something to say, after all.
• Write about writing. Take 15 minutes and write a letter to yourself about why you don’t want to write this. This lets you vent your frustrations and anxieties. Then, Take 15 minutes and write about what you could do to get unstuck. You can also try writing about what you’re going to write, making an initial assessment of the assignment. You won’t have the pressure of writing an actual draft, but you will be able to get something down on paper.
• Write the easiest part first. You don’t have to start at the beginning. Whatever section you can do, do it! If you think that’s wimpy, and you would rather do the hardest part first so that you can get it out of the way, that’s fine—whatever works for you. If you start writing and you get stuck, write about why you’re stuck.
• Talk it out. Try tape-recording yourself speaking the ideas you want to include in the paper, and then transcribe the tape.

Make yourself accountable

Set a writing deadline (other than the paper’s due date) for yourself by making an appointment at the Writing Center or telling your TA (or a former TA) that you’re going to give them a draft on such-and-such a date. If you make your Writing Center appointment for several days before the paper is due, then you may be motivated to have a draft finished. Or set an earlier appointment at the Writing Center to have a conversation about your plans for the draft. Talking out your ideas with someone will help you get them organized for subsequent writing.

Leave your work out

Keeping your work (books, notes, articles, etc.) physically out, in full view, gives you a reminder that you are in the middle of the paper, or that you need to start. Also, if you write in more than one shift, it can be helpful to leave off in the middle of a paragraph and leave your ‘tools’ where they are. When you return to the paper, you’ll be able to “warm up” by finishing that paragraph. Starting a new section cold may be more difficult.

Work on improving your writing when you don’t have a deadline

Investigate your writing process. First of all, you may not think you have a thing called a “writing process.” But you do—everyone does. Describe your writing process in detail.

Ask yourself:

• When do I usually start on a paper?
• What tools do I need (or think I need) in order to write?
• Where do I write?
• Do I like quiet or noise when I write?
• How long a block of time do I need?
• What do I do before I start?
• What do I do at the end?
• How do I feel at the end (after I have turned it in)?

Then ask yourself:

• What do I like about my writing process?
• What do I want to change?

Once you can see your writing process, then you can make a decision to change it. But take it easy with this—only work on one part at a time. Otherwise, you’ll get overwhelmed and frustrated—and we all know where that leads, straight down the procrastination road.

Evaluate your writing’s strengths and weaknesses

If you aren’t ready to evaluate your writing process completely (and it’s okay if you aren’t), then you could try just listing your strengths and weaknesses as a writer. For instance, perhaps you are great at creating thesis statements, but you have trouble developing arguments. Or, your papers are very well-organized, but your thesis and argument tend to fall a little flat. Identifying these issues will help you do two things: 1) When you write, you can play to your strength; and 2) You can choose one weakness and do something about it when you DON’T have a deadline.

Now, doing anything when you don’t have a deadline may sound strange to a procrastinator, but bear with me. Let’s say you’ve decided that your writing is too wordy, and you want to work on being more concise. So, some time when you don’t have a paper—but you do have a free hour—you waltz into the Writing Center and tell your tutor, “Hey, I want learn to how to write more clearly.” You confer, and you come away with some simple strategies for eliminating wordiness.

Here is why this may make a difference the next time you write a paper, regardless of whether or not you have procrastinated (again!): You print out your draft. It’s 1 a.m. You go to bed. The next morning, you read over your paper (it’s due at noon). You say to yourself, “Hmmm, I notice I’m being too wordy.” BUT, rather than concluding, “Oh, well, it’s too late, there isn’t anything I can do about that,” (as you may have in the past), you can choose to employ some of what you learned (previously, when you weren’t under the gun) to make your writing more concise. You edit the paper accordingly. You turn it in.

When your instructor hands the papers back the following week, there are far fewer instances of “awkward,” “unclear,” etc. in the margins. Voila! You’ve made a positive change in your writing process!

What does this have to do with procrastination? Well, making one small change in your writing process creates momentum. You begin to feel more positive about your writing. You begin to be less intimidated by writing assignments. And—eventually—you start them earlier, because they just aren’t as big a deal as they used to be.

Evaluating the strengths and weaknesses in your writing gives you a sense of control. Your writing problems are solvable problems. Working on your writing when you don’t have a deadline helps you gain insight and momentum. Soon, writing becomes something that, while you may not look forward to it, you don’t dread quite as much. Thus, you don’t procrastinate quite as much.

This strategy also accounts for the fact that if you perceive procrastination as having been successful for you in the past, you aren’t going to give it up right away

Hone your proofreading and editing skills

If you procrastinate on writing because you don’t like to re-read what you have written, the good news is this: you can learn specific proofreading , revising , and editing strategies. If you finish your paper ahead of time, and you re-read it, and you don’t like it, you have options. Writing a first draft that you don’t like doesn’t mean you’re a terrible writer. Many writers—in fact, I would venture to say most—hate their first drafts. Neither Leo Tolstoy nor Toni Morrison produce(d) brilliant prose the first time around. In fact, Morrison (a big fan of revision) said recently that you don’t have to love your writing just because you wrote it! If you practice some revision and editing strategies, you may feel more comfortable with the idea of re-reading your papers. You’ll know that if you find weaknesses in the draft (and you will), you can do something to improve those areas.

Learn how to tell time

One of the best ways to combat procrastination is to develop a more realistic understanding of time. Procrastinators’ views of time tend to be fairly unrealistic. “This paper is only going to take me about five hours to write,” you think. “Therefore, I don’t need to start on it until the night before.” What you may be forgetting, however, is that our time is often filled with more activities than we realize. On the night in question, for instance, let’s say you go to the gym at 4:45 p.m. You work out (1 hour), take a shower and dress (30 minutes), eat dinner (45 minutes), and go to a sorority meeting (1 hour). By the time you get back to your dorm room to begin work on the paper, it is already 8:00 p.m. But now you need to check your email and return a couple of phone calls. It’s 8:30 p.m. before you finally sit down to write the paper. If the paper does indeed take five hours to write, you will be up until 1:30 in the morning—and that doesn’t include the time that you will inevitably spend watching TV.

And, as it turns out, it takes about five hours to write a first draft of the essay. You have forgotten to allow time for revision, editing, and proofreading. You get the paper done and turn it in the next morning. But you know it isn’t your best work, and you are pretty tired from the late night, and so you make yourself a promise: “Next time, I’ll start early!”

Make an unschedule

The next time you have a writing deadline, try using an unschedule to outline a realistic plan for when you will write. An unschedule is a weekly calendar of all the ways in which your time is already accounted for. When you make an unschedule, you consider not only your timed commitments such as classes and meetings, but also your untimed activities such as meals, exercise, errands, laundry, time with friends and family, and the like. It is not a list of what you should do in a given week; rather it is an outline of the time that you will necessarily spend doing other things besides writing.

Once you have made your unschedule, take a look at the blank spaces. These represent the maximum number of hours that you could potentially spend writing. By starting with these blank spaces as a guide, you will be able to more accurately predict how much time you will be able to write on any given day. You may be able to see, for instance, that you really don’t have five hours to spend writing on the night before the paper is due. By planning accordingly, you will not only get a better night’s sleep, you may also end up with a better paper!

The unschedule might also be a good way to get started on a larger writing project, such as a term paper or an honors thesis. You may think that you have “all semester” to get the writing done, but if you really sit down and map out how much time you have available to write on a daily and weekly basis, you will see that you need to get started sooner, rather than later. In addition, the unschedule may reveal especially busy weeks or months, which will help you budget time for long-term projects.

Perhaps most importantly, the unschedule can help you examine how you spend your time. You may be surprised at how much (or how little) time you spend watching television, and decide to make a change. It’s especially important that you build time for fun activities into your unschedule. Otherwise, you will procrastinate in order to steal time for relaxation.

You can also use the unschedule to record your progress towards your goal. Each time you work on your paper, for example, mark it on the unschedule. One of the most important things you can do to kick the procrastination habit is to reward yourself when you write something, even if (especially if) that writing is only a little piece of the whole. Seeing your success on paper will help reinforce the productive behavior, and you will feel more motivated to write later in the day or week.

Set a time limit

Okay, so maybe one of the reasons you procrastinate on writing projects is that you just plain hate writing! You would rather be at the dentist than sitting in front of your computer with a blank Microsoft Word document staring you in the face. In that case, it may be helpful to set limits on how much time you will spend writing before you do something else. While the notation “Must work on Hemingway essay all weekend” may not inspire you to sit down and write, “Worked on Hemingway essay for ½ hour” just might. Or, if you tell yourself that you will write “all weekend,” for instance, the sheer agony of the thought may keep you from doing any writing at all. If, however, you say that you will write for two hours on Saturday afternoon, you may actually accomplish something. The important thing here is to keep your commitment to yourself. Even if, at the end of the two hours, you think you could keep going, stop. Go outside and enjoy the weather. Your procrastinating self needs to be able to trust your new non-procrastinating self the next time you say you will only write for a certain amount of time. If you go overboard this time, then the next time you say, “I’ll write for two hours and then stop,” the procrastinator within will respond, “Yeah, right! I’m going rollerblading!”

On the other hand, it may work better for you to trick yourself into working on your paper by telling yourself you’re only going to write for two hours, but then continuing to work if you’re feeling inspired. Experiment with both approaches and see which one seems to work best for you.

Be realistic about how long it takes you to write

Procrastinators tend to be heroic about time; they estimate that it will take them two hours to complete a task that would take most people four. Once you have determined that procrastination is hurting your writing, begin taking notice of how long it actually takes you to write. Many students have a “page an hour” rule. Perhaps you can write a page in an hour if you are totally rested, fed, and focused, your roommate isn’t home, and the wind is blowing just right. But what if the phone rings, what if you are tired, and what if you have to go to the bathroom? When you estimate how long it will take you to write something, expect that there will be interruptions along the way.

Parting thoughts

As you explore why you procrastinate and experiment with strategies for working differently, don’t expect overnight transformation. You developed the procrastination habit over a long period of time; you aren’t going to stop magically. But you can change the behavior, bit by bit. If you stop punishing yourself when you procrastinate and start rewarding yourself for your small successes, you will eventually develop new writing habits. And you will get a lot more sleep.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Burka, Jane M., and Lenora M. Yuen. 1983. Procrastination: Why You Do It, What to Do About It Now . Boston: Addison-Wesley Publishing.

Ellis, Albert, and William J. Knaus. 1977. Overcoming Procrastination . New York: Signet.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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How to finish writing an academic paper when you’re stuck

Whether the academic paper you’re stuck on is a term paper, dissertation, journal article, or even the chapter of a book, reaching the point when you confront a blank page and write your first sentence can be unnerving. Your approach to this vital stage in the writing process is, to a certain extent, a matter of personal preference, and you will develop strategies as you become more experienced. But if you are just beginning, the task will seem more manageable once you have the following in place:

Academic papers need a clearly stated argument or claim

Are you clear about what you want to say? Imagine you are explaining your argument to a child. Draft a few sentences in which you state your claim in plain and simple language. You may find that the process of articulating the argument as if to a child — or someone with no knowledge of your field — nudges you into beginning your introduction. Remember, this is just the first draft. You will revise it later, and then you can work on developing a more elevated style and vocabulary.

Academic papers need a detailed, well-structured outline

With an outline you break down your argument into a series of logical stages which give the document its coherence. At every level — chapters, sections or paragraphs — the work you do on your outline will make the writing process much easier later. Your outline should contain drafts of the topic sentences that drive your argument forward and control its momentum in each stage.

If the shape and order aren’t falling into place, jot down your key ideas and sentences so that you can “brainstorm.” You may want to consider using mind-mapping software to create spider diagrams or flow charts to help you organize your ideas.

Academic papers require solid research to support your argument

The outline is the skeleton of your academic paper. The research is what gives it life. Have you completed enough research to support your argument? Have you stored and indexed it in a way that makes it easy to access? Do you have all your references in hand?

Remember, too, that nothing is written in stone at this stage. Writing is an organic process, and you may find that the process takes you in directions you hadn’t expected. Expect to tweak your outline, to find you need to supplement your research, to eliminate sections, and to revisit and change the nuances of your argument.

Writing an academic paper involves creative and analytical input, which are complex tasks that are never easy. But if you do the groundwork in a calm and methodical manner, you will be well prepared to begin writing with confidence and purpose.

© Oxford Editing, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Oxford Editing with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

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6 Tips for When You Feel Stuck in Your Writing

Every writer knows the feeling of being stuck while writing. You may get stuck in writing a piece or stuck in developing an outline or just stuck in generating fresh ideas. You may have the feeling that you are delivering the same message time in and time out, although in a different package. Stuck. Stuck. Stuck.

So what can you do? Here are six helpful tips to overcome the feeling of being stuck and get a fresh start today. 

• Read through older writings you have written. These could be blog posts, unpublished book chapters, drafts, poems or whatever. Be on the lookout for ideas, phrases and sentences that may resonate with you and that you want to explore further. For example, I often take a paragraph of a blog post or an article I have written that is rich with messages and ideas and start writing and exploring these ideas further. In this way, I can turn a paragraph from an old post into a new fresh post or an article. 
• Read through your journal. In case you are not journaling, it is a great time to do it. I often go through my entries to look for inspiration and fresh ideas. Usually, I take notes from my daily Bible study in my journal, and these notes are wonderful starting points to generate fresh content. 
• Use social media. Social media can also be a great resource of inspiration if we use it wisely. Instead of mindlessly scrolling through our feeds, we can be attentive for messages that speak to our souls. We can meditate on these messages and see where this will take us. Also, listen carefully to the questions and comments your audience is making. Answering them can be very helpful in generating content. 
• Use free writing. Just write or type whatever comes to your mind at that very moment. Pour out your feelings and thoughts on the paper. Let it roll. You can do this for a couple of minutes and then read what you have written. Perhaps a word, phrase or sentence will strike a chord and get you going. 
• Try writing in a new format. For example, if you are stuck in writing a devotional, try writing a Bible study or a poem or a short story. Just change the format, and see if it will help you get unstuck.
• Take a prayer walk. This one is my favorite. I am always surprised by how God refreshes my body, spirit and mind when I take a prayer walk. Usually, I am trying to be observant and focus my attention on the surrounding things while walking — a tree, a flower, the color of the sky. Talking to God in prayer and letting Him untangle my thoughts and worries is extremely beneficial to get unstuck in my writing too

As writers, there will be times we feel stuck in our writing, and this is normal. We need to remember that we are God’s vessels and let Him make us rest, refresh and refill with new insights and messages, and fresh ideas and words. He is our primary source of inspiration, and He provides the strength to persevere in our creative callings. Additionally, we can also try these practical tips to push through and keep writing. 

Hadassah Treu

Have you tried some of these tips? Which ones? Share your tips to get unstuck in your writing in the comments. 

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January 19th, 2016

Five strategies to get your academic writing “unstuck”.

4 comments | 26 shares

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

When I blog about academic writing, I do so from the vantage point of someone who does it on a daily basis . Someone who recognizes his own time limitations (because I’m pretty busy), and his challenges (because I write academic prose both in English and Spanish , each with their own challenges). Even though I have an incredibly well-organized schedule , sometimes life happens and my schedule gets somewhat derailed. This doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. Moreover, sometimes, I also get stuck. I want to write, but my brain doesn’t want to push words out through my fingers.

The more I work with myself and think about how I approach my research, the more I can see how I can improve my writing. In particular, lately, I’ve found five strategies to get myself “unstuck”. If I feel that the words aren’t flowing, I use one of these strategies (or all combined).

Image credit:  Drew Coffman   Writer’s Block CC BY 2.0

1. write an outline..

This is pretty basic advice, but one that has helped me think through my research. When I feel that I am stuck, I write an outline, either of the paper I am already writing, or of a new paper. By liberating my busy mind from the worry of not having anything to write and plotting a new idea or conceptual map, I allow my thinking to flow freely.

2. Set a few sentences or a paragraph as your target.

When I set myself a hard target (e.g. 2 consecutive hours of writing), I often see it as a challenge. However, if my goal is to just write a paragraph in a paper, I often find myself that the writing flows more and more. Also, there are very few things that are more fulfilling than seeing the blank spaces being substituted by words, sentences and paragraphs. That feeling of completing an explanation or outlining an idea is just amazing.

3. Answer questions related to your research/paper.

This is related to the first strategy, and I found it helps me quite a lot. I am currently writing on water privatization in Mexico, and I found that the easiest way to write about it was to answer questions. When somebody is reading my paper, what kind of questions do they have, and how can I help them answer them? I find that when I answer a question, that response usually forms one or two paragraphs, and more often than not, a full section.

4. Read a paper and summarize it (in writing)

This is another strategy I’ve been using lately. Instead of getting frustrated about why my writing isn’t flowing, I simply grab an article that I already have read, and I type my notes. I usually type those notes (which are often handwritten) to then transform them into a “memorandum” or a “memo”. I took the idea of writing memos from when I took a course in qualitative methods during my PhD. These “memos” are simply messages to yourself, crafted in such a way that you can generously lift text from them to add them to your paper.

5 . Go for a short walk, armed with a pen and paper pad.

I have a small travel handbook (Moleskine is your best friend) similar to the one that I always carry on the field, when conducting interviews, doing participant observation while on fieldwork. So when I feel stuck, I take my “ideas” notebook and go for a short walk. I usually listen to classical music while I write, so I grab my iPod and play some classical music while on my walk. This usually puts me in a thinking mood and therefore I am able to more quickly jot down ideas that I then come back to my office and type.

As I have told other people, I write about what works for ME. Hopefully these strategies will work for YOU too.

This piece originally appeared on the author’s personal blog in 2014 and is reposted with permission.

Note: This article gives the views of the authors, and not the position of the Impact of Social Science blog, nor of the London School of Economics. Please review our  Comments Policy  if you have any concerns on posting a comment below.

About the Author

Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega is an assistant professor of comparative public policy at the Centre for Economic Research and Teaching (Centro de Investigación y Docencia Económicas, CIDE). He specializes in environmental politics.

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• Pingback: Five strategies to get your academic writing “unstuck” | Progressive Geographies

Go for a walk with an audio recorder.

• Pingback: Some Resources for (Academic) Writers | Dr Geoff Kushnick

For me, academic writing is all about sticking to deadlines. But when the time limit is tight and the words just aren’t flowing it could become a real problem. Of course, just like every writer, I have my tricks that work well for me, but I loved your #5 method with a short walk. Great idea! Thanks, I will definitely try it.

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Essay Writing Tips: 10 Steps to Writing a Great Essay (And Have Fun Doing It!)

by Joe Bunting | 118 comments

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Do you dread essay writing? Are you looking for some essay tips that will help you write an amazing essay—and have fun doing it?

Lots of students, young and old, dread essay writing. It's a daunting assignment, one that takes research, time, and concentration.

It's also an assignment that you can break up into simple steps that make writing an essay manageable and, yes, even enjoyable.

These ten essay tips completely changed my writing process—and I hope that they can do the same for you.

Essay Writing Can Be Fun

Honestly, throughout most of high school and college, I was a mediocre essay writer.

Every once in a while, I would write a really good essay, but mostly I skated by with B's and A-minuses.

I know personally how boring writing an essay can be, and also, how hard it can be to write a good one.

However, toward the end of my time as a student, I made a breakthrough. I figured out how to not only write a great essay, I learned how to have fun while doing it . 

And since then, I've become a professional writer and have written more than a dozen books. I'm not saying that these essay writing tips are going to magically turn you into a writer, but at least they can help you enjoy the process more.

I'm excited to share these ten essay writing tips with you today! But first, we need to talk about why writing an essay is so hard.

Why Writing an Essay Is So Hard

When it comes to essay writing, a lot of students find a reason to put it off. And when they tackle it, they find it difficult to string sentences together that sound like a decent stance on the assigned subject.

Here are a few reasons why essay writing is hard:

• You'd rather be scrolling through Facebook
• You're trying to write something your teacher or professor will like
• You're trying to get an A instead of writing something that's actually good
• You want to do the least amount of work possible

The biggest reason writing an essay is so hard is because we mostly focus on those external  rewards like getting a passing grade, winning our teacher's approval, or just avoiding accusations of plagiarism.

The problem is that when you focus on external approval it not only makes writing much less fun, it also makes it significantly harder.

Because when you focus on external approval, you shut down your subconscious, and the subconscious is the source of your creativity.

The subconscious is the source of your creativity.

What this means practically is that when you're trying to write that perfect, A-plus-worthy sentence, you're turning off most of your best resources and writing skills.

So stop. Stop trying to write a good essay (or even a “good-enough” essay). Instead, write an interesting  essay, write an essay you think is fascinating. And when you're finished, go back and edit it until it's “good” according to your teacher's standards.

Yes, you need to follow the guidelines in your assignment. If your teacher tells you to write a five-paragraph essay, then write a five-paragraph essay! If your teacher asks for a specific type of essay, like an analysis, argument, or research essay, then make sure you write that type of essay!

However, within those guidelines, find room to express something that is uniquely you .

I can't guarantee you'll get a higher grade (although, you almost certainly will), but I can absolutely promise you'll have a lot more fun writing.

The Step-by-Step Process to Writing a Great Essay: Your 10 Essay Writing Tips

Ready to get writing? You can read my ten best tips for having fun while writing an essay that earns you the top grade, or check out this presentation designed by our friends at Canva Presentations .

1. Remember your essay is just a story.

Every story is about conflict and change, and the truth is that essays are about conflict and change, too! The difference is that in an essay, the conflict is between different ideas , and the change is in the way we should perceive those ideas.

That means that the best essays are about surprise: “You probably think it's one way, but in reality, you should think of it this other way.” See tip #3 for more on this.

How do you know what story you're telling? The prompt should tell you.

Any list of essay prompts includes various topics and tasks associated with them. Within those topics are characters (historical, fictional, or topical) faced with difficult choices. Your job is to work with those choices, usually by analyzing them, arguing about them, researching them, or describing them in detail.

2. Before you start writing, ask yourself, “How can I have the most fun writing this?”

It's normal to feel unmotivated when writing an academic essay. I'm a writer, and honestly, I feel unmotivated to write all the time. But I have a super-ninja, judo-mind trick I like to use to help motivate myself.

Here's the secret trick: One of the interesting things about your subconscious is that it will answer any question you ask yourself. So whenever you feel unmotivated to write your essay, ask yourself the following question:

“How much fun can I have writing this?”

Your subconscious will immediately start thinking of strategies to make the writing process more fun.

The best time to have your fun is the first draft. Since you're just brainstorming within the topic, and exploring the possible ways of approaching it, the first draft is the perfect place to get creative and even a little scandalous. Here are some wild suggestions to make your next essay a load of fun:

• Research the most surprising or outrageous fact about the topic and use it as your hook.
• Use a thesaurus to research the topic's key words. Get crazy with your vocabulary as you write, working in each key word synonym as much as possible.
• Play devil's advocate and take the opposing or immoral side of the issue. See where the discussion takes you as you write.

3. As you research, ask yourself, “What surprises me about this subject?”

The temptation, when you're writing an essay, is to write what you think your teacher or professor wants to read.

Don't do this .

Instead, ask yourself, “What do I find interesting about this subject? What surprises me?”

If you can't think of anything that surprises you, anything you find interesting, then you're not searching well enough, because history, science, and literature are all brimming   over with surprises. When you look at how great ideas actually happen, the story is always, “We used  to think the world was this way. We found out we were completely wrong, and that the world is actually quite different from what we thought.”

These pieces of surprising information often make for the best topic sentences as well. Use them to outline your essay and build your body paragraphs off of each unique fact or idea. These will function as excellent hooks for your reader as you transition from one topic to the next.

(By the way, what sources should you use for research? Check out tip #10 below.)

4. Overwhelmed? Write five original sentences.

The standard three-point essay is really made up of just five original sentences surrounded by supporting paragraphs that back up those five sentences. If you're feeling overwhelmed, just write five sentences covering your most basic main points.

Here's what they might look like for this article:

• Introductory Paragraph:  While most students consider writing an essay a boring task, with the right mindset, it can actually be an enjoyable experience.
• Body #1: Most students think writing an essay is tedious because they focus on external rewards.
• Body #2: Students should instead focus on internal fulfillment when writing an essay.
• Body #3: Not only will focusing on internal fulfillment allow students to have more fun, it will also result in better essays.
• Conclusion: Writing an essay doesn't have to be simply a way to earn a good grade. Instead, it can be a means of finding fulfillment.

After you write your five sentences, it's easy to fill in the paragraphs for each one.

Now, you give it a shot!

5. Be “source heavy.”

In college, I discovered a trick that helped me go from a B-average student to an A-student, but before I explain how it works, let me warn you. This technique is powerful , but it might not work for all teachers or professors. Use with caution.

As I was writing a paper for a literature class, I realized that the articles and books I was reading said what I was trying to say much better than I ever could. So what did I do? I quoted them liberally throughout my paper. When I wasn't quoting, I re-phrased what they said in my own words, giving proper credit, of course. I found that not only did this formula create a well-written essay, it took about half the time to write.

It's good to keep in mind that using anyone else's words, even when morphed into your own phrasing, requires citation. While the definition of plagiarism is shifting with the rise of online collaboration and cooperative learning environments, always  err on the side of excessive citation to be safe.

When I used this technique, my professors sometimes mentioned that my papers were very “source” heavy. However, at the same time, they always gave me A's.

To keep yourself safe, I recommend using a 60/40 approach with your body paragraphs: Make sure 60% of the words are your own analysis and argumentation, while 40% can be quoted (or text you paraphrase) from your sources.

Like the five sentence trick, this technique makes the writing process simpler. Instead of putting the main focus on writing well, it instead forces you to research  well, which some students find easier.

6. Write the body first, the introduction second, and the conclusion last.

Introductions are often the hardest part to write because you're trying to summarize your entire essay before you've even written it yet. Instead, try writing your introduction last, giving yourself the body of the paper to figure out the main point of your essay.

This is especially important with an essay topic you are not personally interested in. I definitely recommend this in classes you either don't excel in or care much for. Take plenty of time to draft and revise your body paragraphs before  attempting to craft a meaningful introductory paragraph.

Otherwise your opening may sound awkward, wooden, and bland.

7. Most essays answer the question, “What?” Good essays answer the “Why?” The best essays answer the “How?”

If you get stuck trying to make your argument, or you're struggling to reach the required word count, try focusing on the question, “How?”

For example:

• How did J.D. Salinger convey the theme of inauthenticity in  The Catcher In the Rye ?
• How did Napoleon restore stability in France after the French Revolution?
• How does the research prove girls really do rule and boys really do drool?

If you focus on how, you'll always have enough to write about.

8. Don't be afraid to jump around.

Essay writing can be a dance. You don't have to stay in one place and write from beginning to end.

For the same reasons listed in point #6, give yourself the freedom to write as if you're circling around your topic rather than making a single, straightforward argument. Then, when you edit and proofread, you can make sure everything lines up correctly.

In fact, now is the perfect time to mention that proofreading your essay isn't just about spelling and commas.

It's about making sure your analysis or argument flows smoothly from one idea to another. (Okay, technically this comprises editing, but most students writing a high school or college essay don't take the time to complete every step of the writing process. Let's be honest.)

So as you clean up your mechanics and sentence structure, make sure your ideas flow smoothly, logically, and naturally from one to the next as you finish proofreading.

9. Here are some words and phrases you don't want to use.

• You  (You'll notice I use a lot of you's, which is great for a blog post. However, in an academic essay, it's better to omit the second-person.)
• To Be verbs (is, are, was, were, am)

Don't have time to edit? Here's a lightning-quick editing technique .

A note about “I”: Some teachers say you shouldn't use “I” statements in your writing, but the truth is that professional, academic papers often use phrases like “I believe” and “in my opinion,” especially in their introductions.

10. It's okay to use Wikipedia, if…

Wikipedia is one of the top five websites in the world for a reason: it can be a great tool for research. However, most teachers and professors don't consider Wikipedia a valid source for use in essays.

Don't totally discount it, though! Here are two ways you can use Wikipedia in your essay writing:

• Background research. If you don't know enough about your topic, Wikipedia can be a great resource to quickly learn everything you need to know to get started.
• Find sources . Check the reference section of Wikipedia's articles on your topic. While you may not be able to cite Wikipedia itself, you can often find those original sources and cite them . You can locate the links to primary and secondary sources at the bottom of any Wikipedia page under the headings “Further Reading” and “References.”

You Can Enjoy Essay Writing

The thing I regret most about high school and college is that I treated it like something I had  to do rather than something I wanted  to do.

The truth is, education is an opportunity many people in the world don't have access to.

It's a gift, not just something that makes your life more difficult. I don't want you to make the mistake of just “getting by” through school, waiting desperately for summer breaks and, eventually, graduation.

How would your life be better if you actively enjoyed writing an essay? What would school look like if you wanted to suck it dry of all the gifts it has to give you?

All I'm saying is, don't miss out!

Looking for More Essay Writing Tips?

Looking for more essay tips to strengthen your essay writing? Try some of these resources:

• 7 Tips on Writing an Effective Essay
• Tips for Writing Your Thesis Statement

How about you? Do you have any tips for writing an essay?  Let us know in the  comments .

Need more grammar help?  My favorite tool that helps find grammar problems and even generates reports to help improve my writing is ProWritingAid . Works with Word, Scrivener, Google Docs, and web browsers. Also, be sure to use my coupon code to get 20 percent off: WritePractice20

Coupon Code:WritePractice20 »

Ready to try out these ten essay tips to make your essay assignment fun? Spend fifteen minutes using tip #4 and write five original sentences that could be turned into an essay.

When you're finished, share your five sentences in the comments section. And don't forget to give feedback to your fellow writers!

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Joe Bunting

Joe Bunting is an author and the leader of The Write Practice community. He is also the author of the new book Crowdsourcing Paris , a real life adventure story set in France. It was a #1 New Release on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram (@jhbunting).

Want best-seller coaching? Book Joe here.

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How Do You Finish An Essay When You’re Stuck?

Whether you are writing a seminar paper, a dissertation, an article in a journal, or something else, the feeling that we are stuck with a blank page is not pleasant. Then all sorts of thoughts run through our heads, but never the ones we really need at that moment – or so we think…

This is one of the biggest problems for people who have started writing an academic paper, and it is generally a problem with writing anything. This condition is most often justified by a lack of inspiration. It is wrong to rely exclusively on inspiration at this stage, it is an academic work that should be well structured.

So inspiration is always welcome. However, you cannot rely only on it when it comes to such serious projects. Sometimes the solution comes to us quite suddenly, but mostly we need a good organization which is always a better option. You desperately need a good writing strategy, but don’t worry if you’re not good at it yet. This is gained through experience. Read a little more about it in the text and learn how to get out of this situation.

Page Contents

Remember that there is no room for panic when writing an essay. Feeling stuck and not knowing how to move on is not something that only happens to you. This happens to many other people who are experienced writers. For example, think about your favorite author and ask yourself if he wrote every book in one go.

Of course not, he must have stopped at least at one point to gather himself and move on. Maybe he even had to pause for a few months, or it lasted shorter. However, the blockade has certainly happened, and so it is no wonder if it is happening right now to you.

Be imaginative

Now that you have relaxed , don’t think so much about the next step until you have rested for at least a few minutes. Get a colored pencil or something even more fun. Maybe start making a collage of ideas or something. Basically, the point is to employ your mind with something fun and you will surely have more motivation to continue, some new ideas will be born, or you will try to write about something even better from scratch. Either way, you can always go outside to clear your mind even better and take a walk, ride a bike, invite friends, etc.

Get on time

You could do all this only if you started writing early . It is very important that you set aside enough time and free up space for situations like this. In order to better organize your time, it is not bad to set a timer. This will be the best motive for continuing to write and complete the essay. When you realize that you have too little time left to submit an essay, you can become even more nervous and less motivated.

So set aside real-time and set your timer. This way you will force yourself to finish what you started and stay responsible until the end. Otherwise, you may repeatedly tell yourself that you have time and you can’t deal with it now, but writing an essay also requires discipline.

Also, when you go at least a week in advance to think about an idea, you have enough time to avoid forcing yourself when you have to have it. With this method, you can also avoid bad writing, because due to lack of time, you will write mostly what comes to your mind. Sometimes it won’t be good enough.

Perfectionism is not necessary

If this is your personality trait, turn it off during this job. Don’t get us wrong, because we’re not telling you not to make an effort while writing. We just advise you that if you have a plan, keep writing even if you pause for a moment. Don’t dwell too long on some sentences that aren’t that important and can pass without correction.

Eventually, mark it so you can come back later if you think you can’t think of something better right away. Keep in mind that the best essays arose from only a few theses, which were later elaborated and presented as great ideas, reasoned views, etc. That is why this is a procedure that requires, above all, restores, corrections and a lot of editing. All this makes it much better. Reconcile with the fact that it will never be perfect the first time and only see later what you can do with it.

Good structure

Perfectionism may not be desirable, but a well-structured overview must exist. So, work hard on your sketches, which will help you have a quality whole later. If you pause for a moment, go back and review your hypotheses, paragraphs, and try to break them down again. Once you get a great overview, you will know how to proceed. You’re probably just lost because you’ve lost consistency at some point, but if your work contains thematic sentences, they will trigger your argument.

This is exactly how you will be able to control it at every stage of writing. However, if this does not happen to you, try to write down your ideas on another piece of paper and work them out. Lastly, you can always take advantage of extra help if you know where to look for it. If you are wondering what kind of help we are talking about, visit www.homeworkhelpglobal.com/us/ and find out.

Don’t forget to research. This is not just the initial stage. It extends throughout the writing and helps by supporting your argument. Know that it is not enough to have one idea as a framework for your work. You can get into a situation where you often repeat yourself and mostly block there.

So keep researching, because that’s what brings life to your academic work. If you are stuck, you most likely have not researched and stored all the information enough to facilitate access. Think about whether you have all the references with you.

So, when you can’t continue writing your essay, do one thing. For start, relax. You have to avoid stress. Stress kills creativity. Then search the internet for some topics, read them, write down some observations and start creating your strategic plan. We hope that we have helped you to design it as well as possible and finish it fast.

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Writing advice: what to do when you’re stuck

By Patrick Gant

Don’t wait for that sinking feeling to set in.

Here’s the first thing you must do.

Keep writing .

Don’t give in to that feeling that says you need to walk away.

Giving in is easy. It’s what many people do.

There are cases where you need to shift gears for a bit (and I’ll come back to that). But unless you keep working at your craft and your ideas, you’re going to lose any momentum you started with.

There’s an even bigger danger.

Unless you’re in the deadlines business like I am, there is also a good chance that if you put that writing project away, you might not come back to it. Ever.

Stop with the Point-A-to-Point-B thinking . Be more abstract.

Ideas and the business of writing them down is not a linear practice. In fact, it’s rare to be struck by a fully formed thought that’s ready to share. That’s just the low-hanging fruit, my friends. The rest takes time to ripen. And often it’s going to take you in directions that may surprise you as much as your reader.

Here are a few methods I use when I get stuck. You can use any of these, too.

The tangential method

Find a good quote about the subject you are writing about. Don’t just slap that quote into your copy.

The writer’s first devotion is curiosity and you feed it by asking questions.

Who is the speaker behind the quote? Are there any articles posted online about this person? Book reviews?

How might what they have to say about one thing relate to another thing in an entirely unexpected way?

A few minutes of satisfied curiosity can provide you with an entirely new angle on what you’re writing about.

Here’s a secret: it’s one of my most reliable ways of coming up with new topics for my newsletter .

The switching gears method

I said earlier that you have to keep on writing when you’re stuck. But that doesn’t mean you have to keep bashing your head against the wall and wishing for a different result. Some ideas need to simmer. In the meantime, write something else.

Creativity is a weird visitor (click to tweet). It often walks into your house, puts its feet up on the sofa, grabs pen and paper and tells you it’s working on something. Let it do its job. Just don’t let it switch on the TV.

Switching gears means that you might not be working on the thing you started on in the first place, but you’re still producing.

Practice and discipline. These are your best teachers.

The backstory method

This one applies to fiction writing. Having trouble making a character believable? Invent a backstory and write it down. Need help asking the right questions? Go to one of those free online dating sites and look at the questions they ask of people when creating a dating profile. Fill it in. The answers you’re being asked are meant to help other people decide if you’re likeable and compatible. This is a good resource if you’re stumped.

With a fact-filled backstory (okay, made up facts, but I’m sure you get where I’m going with this), you have new ways to approach your subject and write convincingly. After all, you totally know this guy now.

The undoing method

Some ideas are just not ready for primetime. Some are just crappy ideas. A good way to test yours is to turn them inside out. Play devil’s advocate. Write a short piece arguing the opposing point of view.

One of my business lines is speechwriting . I sometimes use this method when I’m finding the copy isn’t as persuasive as I need it to be.

Undo your arguments.

You’ll quickly reveal the cut line that separates the facts you know are true from the rest of the points that you simply feel are true.

About Patrick Gant

Patrick Gant owns thinkit creative, specializing in writing for the web and digital marketing.

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The secret trick to writing when stuck

Published by Bethany on January 17, 2019 January 17, 2019

 Need to write for your book, blog, or freelance job…but can’t? Sometimes we all get stuck. Here’s a trick that will get you writing when stuck today!

Most of us don’t have to write. So when you’re suffering from writer’s block, it’s easy to throw it into the important-but-not-urgent pile along with exercise, meditation, and the dirty socks. ⁣

For many years, I’d claim I planned to write books. Someday. ⁣

When? Was I waiting for someone to knock on my door and say “you should write a book.” Or maybe I was waiting to get in the mood. It took me a decade to figure out “mood” is largely irrelevant. That we may never be in the mood to do most things worth doing.

The trick is to just do them anyway. So I did.

I sI started by going small; committing to writing one page. Then I wrote a scene. Before long I had amassed 50k words of compete drivel. 

It was about a generation ship that takes off with half of earth’s surviving population, leaving the rest to certain doom. Oh, and the leader of those left behind managed to control the population with an addictive hallucinogenic and RFID chips. This piece ostensibly to set up the next book in the series.

Yup. It was bad. Half a star at best.⁣

Here were a few of the technical problems besides the terrible plot:

The genre didn’t exist, for one.⁣ The entire thing was backstory.⁣ It was short by about half.⁣ And the kicker. 

It didn’t…like…make sense.⁣

You get the point. ⁣The important thing was I did it. 

I could write even when stuck. My mood was irrelevant. Sure it was easier when flow state hit and I’d look up after hours and realize the whole day had gone, with thousands of words to show for it. But that only happened occasionally.

After I realized it didn’t matter, I wrote another book. And a third. And by the fifth attempt, things were looking better.

 I secured a publishing contract — not for “Before the Storm” my post-apocalyptic disaster — but for a narrative nonfiction how-to, Courage to Tri , which means at least one person liked what I had to say. 

Some days I even felt like writing. Others, what I wrote actually made sense. But, if none of that happened, I was always happy I had written.

What about you? Do you need a kick in the pants to get to writing when stuck?

Here are the exact steps to give it a try yourself:⁣

• Step One:  Open up a new doc.

That was easy, right?

A common piece of advice for new exercisers is to underpromise. In other words, instead of saying you’ll run five miles, commit to lacing up your shoes and running around the block.

The idea is that by the time you’ve gone round the street you’ll think ‘this isn’t so bad, I’ll tack on a bit more.’ Then before you know it, you’ve done those five miles or at least a chunk of it.

The same trick works for writing when stuck.

2.  Step Two:  Commit to writing one paragraph. Don’t worry about whether it’s good, or even makes sense. Just write it.

This advice sounds simplistic, but it really works. I’ve used the same trick hundreds of times whether gearing up to do a century ride or a three mile run with my dog.

Only rarely does it lead to the ride of shame in the dreaded sag wagon.

3. Step Three: Leave the doc open and do something else

Now it’s time for your subconscious to take over and fill in the holes. Go for a walk, empty the dishwasher, or work on your day job.

“If you have work to do, don’t wait to feel like it; set to work and you will feel like it.”⁣

4  Step Four:  Commit to revisit your paragraph at x day and time.

That’s it! Before you know it, you’ll have a regular writing habit. Congrats! You’ve figured out the trick to writing when stuck.

Now the trick is to do this day after day. Taking the pressure off to come up with something good and committing to stick with it, regardless of mood, is the hallmark of a professional. 

That’s it! Before you know it, you’ll have a regular writing habit.

I hope this helps you write when stuck! If you try it, hit the reply button and let me know!

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Next Up: Getting past the last draft ⁣

Like this idea? Pin it!

Hi,  I’m Bethany –coach, author of  Courage to Tri , 2x Kona qualifier, and twin mom. In a decade of coaching and racing triathlon around the world—from first sprint to IRONMAN Hawaii—I learned a ton about mindset: finding your why, sustaining motivation, overcoming obstacles, and goal setting. Now, I help writers, solopreneurs, and athletes reach their goals using the same process.

Use this simple trick to celebrate your wins — Writing Encouragement · March 13, 2019 at 7:32 pm

[…] Next Up: How to write when you’re not in the mood. […]

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The Biggest Reason You Get Stuck When Writing Essays

Time and time again I get students – mostly adults going to college – who are intelligent, talented, and have interesting things to say in conversation. But when it comes to writing an essay, they freeze after the first sentence.

I used to wonder at why this happens because these students obviously have important things to say and want to express themselves.

Is it the lack of skill? Well, yes, to a degree – essay writing techniques certainly help. But that is not the main reason, as I discovered.

It isn’t the lack of knowledge, because they have usually read the material and very often have done more research than was necessary. Way more.

As I worked with hundreds and then thousands of students – in the classroom, in one-on-one tutoring, and through my website – I noticed a pattern. These smart and hard-working students were stuck because they were afraid to make a statement.

Let me say it again:

College students have a deeply rooted fear of stating an original thought and then supporting it using evidence!

How do I know this? Well, first, I came to this conclusion when I noticed the pattern I described above – the students that contact me for help are usually intelligent, have the knowledge, and really want to write that paper even if only to get it over with.

But second, as you may well know, we live in a very politically correct society. Every day we find ourselves in environments that demand that we watch what we say lest we offend somebody.

And as a result we’ve grown to be afraid to say a simple thing in plain English. And this fear leads directly to the fear of the blank page, otherwise known as ‘being stuck’ or “the writer’s block.”

Hey, you may agree or disagree with me but think back to the last piece of writing you did anywhere – at work, in school, or even on social media. Have you ever written something and then gone back and edited it? And then edited it again just to make sure nobody is offended? Well, that’s a symptom of this fear.

So, What Can You Do About It?

I wish I had an easy answer because the solution lies deep within you. Getting rid of all kinds of fears takes work.

But I’ll give you three steps that you can take right now and start making progress. Perhaps you’ll even get out of your writer’s block just by reading this post to the end. Here you are.

Three Steps to Getting Rid of the Fear of Making an Original Argument

Step 1. Ask Why You Must Handle This Fear

This is probably the most important question in getting anything done. Ask yourself why you really need to overcome this fear.

What will it do for you when you have overcome it?

How will it continue to cause you pain if you don’t overcome it?

Just ask these questions on paper.

Step 2. Write Down Your Thesis Statement

Just write down what you really want to state in your paper – what you really want to argue.

In other words, if you weren’t afraid of anything in the world, what would you argue for or against in your paper?

Just write it down in a complete sentence (or two).

Step 3. Contemplate Your Thesis Statement

Look at your newly created argument that you’ll be supporting in your essay or term paper. Read it a couple of times.

How do you feel about it? Are you proud of your original thought? How does it feel to say what you feel should be said?

Write down a sentence or two about how you feel.

And then write a sentence or two about why you really should stick to your guns and argue this exact point.

That’s it. Once you’ve done this, you’ll notice that you are already writing. Your writer’s block will be gone. And you’ll feel great about yourself and your courage to say what you feel should be said.

And the next step for you will be to write a complete thesis statement, which you can learn in this tutorial .

Tutor Phil is an e-learning professional who helps adult learners finish their degrees by teaching them academic writing skills.

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6 Methods to Unstick Your Story

By Krystal N. Craiker

We’ve all been there. We’re chugging along, writing what we hope is brilliant prose on a new story, when BAM! We hit a wall. All of a sudden, the Muses have abandoned us and gone on vacation. We’re left staring at our screens, unsure where to go next.

Every writer gets stuck when writing, whether you’re penning short stories or novels. We can even get stuck when writing memoirs or personal essays (or – cough, cough – blog posts.) It’s not always writer’s block or a lack of motivation. Sometimes, it’s not even self-doubt. We just reach a point when we don’t know what comes next.

Often times, we know the ending of our story. We typically know the beginning. It’s that pesky middle that trips us up. We might even know that something major is going to happen. But the GPS lost signal, and we aren’t quite sure how to get there.

Fortunately, all hope is not lost. There are countless methods and strategies you can use to get your story back on track. Today, I’m highlighting a few of my favorites. These are all strategies that have worked for me and that I use regularly.

Method 1: Reread

Method 2: back to the drawing board, method 3: write the fun scenes, method 4: write backward, method 5: use writing prompts, method 5: walk away, method 6: send it to a critique partner.

This first method requires a detailed diagnosis of what is going wrong in your story. The first step to diagnosing your novel’s clogged artery is to reread what you have already written.

I’m a big believer that authors should not be waiting until the draft is complete to do a reread. I’m not suggesting you read your entire manuscript every day, either. We don’t have time for that.

Start by reading the previous two or three chapters. You might have found that you accidentally wrote yourself into a corner. It happens. Maybe you wrapped up a conflict too soon, or maybe there’s just not enough explanation for what needs to happen next. These are often simple fixes. Delete or add a couple of sentences, and you might have fixed the problem.

But that’s not always the case. If rereading those couple chapters doesn’t solve the problem, go back to the beginning and read everything you’ve written. Make some notes, but don’t put in any major edits. Read without judgment—this is an early draft, after all—but be honest about what is lacking.

Do you have an outline for your novel? If so, this method is going to be a lot easier for you. I like to say that I’m the “most plotting plotter who has ever plotted.” I’m also realistic and know this method won’t work for everyone! But it’s worth giving it a try.

One of the first steps I take is to create a timeline of the major events in my story. If you haven’t done this, I highly recommend you get a blank sheet of paper, draw a line, and create a timeline à la sixth-grade history class. If your story isn’t written chronologically, you can make a timeline in two ways. First, you can make the timeline chronological for your characters or world. Or you can create the timeline as you intend to write it.

At the very least, your timeline should have an inciting incident, a climax, and a resolution. Then you can fill in from there. Janice Hardy of Fiction University says there are nine big events to include when plotting your story . Tia Nevitt’s six-paragraph synopsis method recommends narrowing your book down to the six big events.

Whichever method you use, write your story’s big events down. As you look at these events, figure out how to get from Point A to Point B to Point C. These transitions are often where our stories get stuck.

Our stories also get stuck because of our characters. As you are looking at your outline, make sure that your character is growing. Also, make sure you have written in your character’s motivations clearly. What does your character want? What is keeping her from achieving it? What will happen if she fails?

In my critique group, we talk a lot about character motivations. When our stories aren’t flowing well, we ask each other about motivations. It comes up so often that it’s almost a joke. But the truth is: we usually need to spend more time making our character’s motivations clear. And it’s not just the motivation for the whole story. If you’re stuck on a scene, ask yourself what every character in that scene wants at that moment . You’ll be surprised by what your characters will tell you.

We all have scenes that we are excited to write. Maybe it’s an epic battle or when two characters finally get together. Maybe you have some witty banter planned. These are the scenes that we live for as writers.

Here’s a tip: You don’t have to write your story in order.

I struggle with this. I think linearly – that’s why the first thing I do when I start a novel is make a timeline. But there’s nothing wrong with jumping ahead a little bit. Getting stuck can make us feel unmotivated. Writing fun scenes make us excited.

Just this week, I reached a point where I was stuck. I knew that I had to show a magical training scene, but I had no clue what it was going to look like. I also knew that in a few chapters’ time, two of my characters were finally going to kiss! I’m a sucker for romance.

I jumped ahead and wrote the romantic scene. It took me two days to get that chapter finished. But then I was able to jump right back to the magical training. I still didn’t have a clear picture, but I was excited by my story again. My fingers just flew across the keyboard, and it led me to a character revelation I didn’t anticipate.

On a similar note, there is nothing stopping you from writing backward. Chances are you have a good idea of your novel’s climax. Start there, or even start with the resolution. Write how you think it should go.

Then work backward. You’ve likely mentioned things that will need to be addressed in the chapters prior. What happens immediately before that big battle? What happens before that?

This is especially useful if you’ve struggled with leaving breadcrumbs for your readers. Writing a big reveal first then backtracking can make sure your clues are strong and well paced.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re new to writing or you are a seasoned author of twenty books. Writing prompts are fun and useful. They can help breathe some new life into your story.

You don’t have to include your writing prompts in your story. Chances are it won’t fit. But starting with a blank page and looking at your plot or your stories with fresh eyes can help. You can discover something new and get excited again.

Here are a few writing prompts I’ve used when my stories get stuck:

• Describe your main character from the points-of-view of someone who loves them and someone who hates them
• Write the story of a character’s emotional wound
• Drop two of your characters into an alternate world (Harry Potter, Marvel Cinematic Universe, etc.). How do they respond?
• Create a dating profile for your character
• What is the worst thing that could happen at this point in your story? Write as if it happened.
• Write a folktale from your story’s world

Sometimes the best thing we can do for a stuck story is to walk away. But don’t just do something mindless so that you can stew on the issue. Put your story out of your mind.

Exercise can be a great way to get your creative juices flowing. You can also read or take a nap to reset. But the thing that almost always works for me is to do something else creative.

If you’re into visual arts, go create! Sculpt, paint, draw. Keep using your creativity. Do you play an instrument? Go practice for an hour.

But maybe you’re like me. I am not musically-inclined. I am also not good at any sort of visual media. I have taken up soap-making as my other creative hobby. Playing with scents and colors is a lot of fun. Here are some other creative options.

• Cooking! Try a new recipe or start experimenting.
• Coloring books
• A BYOB art class

You can also write something else. I’m lucky that I always have plenty to write for my freelance writing jobs. It gets me in the mood for my fiction. But you can write anything when your story gets stuck. Write a poem or some flash fiction in a totally new genre. Work on another story if you have more than one work-in-progress. Draft a blog post. Write a letter or email to someone you haven’t talked to in a while.

If all else fails and your story is still stuck, you might want a fresh pair of eyes. Stepping away from your story can be really useful, too. I challenge you to send your imperfect, unfinished draft to someone you trust—and not look at your story until you get it back.

If you don’t have a critique group, find a critique partner in an in-person or online writing community. They also don’t have to be a writer. Get a trusted friend or family member to be your alpha reader. I highly recommend drafting a quick non-disclosure agreement for anyone who reads your unpublished work to sign.

If you’re in a financial position to do so, consider hiring a developmental or substantive editor. They are trained to help unstick stories. They know how to identify the common problems that are making you stuck.

The most important thing to remember is not to give up when your story gets stuck. The only story that can’t be fixed is an unwritten one.

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Krystal N. Craiker

Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound.

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