WRITER’S BLOCK AND HOW TO OVERCOME IT

7 September 2015

Dr Alison Yeung, Teaching Fellow in PGR Writing Skills, University of Surrey

• Why do we get blocked?• How can we unblock?• How can we prevent writer’s block?

Session focus

Why do we get blocked?

• We think we must know what we want to say BEFORE we can write.

• We struggle to work out the logic of a point, which creates a block.

• We feel we have to be sure about a point before writing it.

• The writing task seems endless or too large to manage.

(From Murray, R. (2002) How to Write a Thesis. Maidenhead: Open University Press.)

Common academic writing problems

• Fear of supervisor’s feedback• Fatigue: too many writing binges• ‘Boredom’: often a sign of stress • Loss of momentum• Irregular writing habits• Fear of failure (or success!)• Lack of rewards• Signposting problems – getting lost in writing• Perfectionism (From Murray, R. (2002) How to Write a Thesis. Maidenhead: Open University Press.)

• Free writing• Generative writing• Pomodoro Technique

Techniques for clearing blocks

• Write for set time without stopping• Write on any subject you wish• No need for complete sentences• Writing is for your eyes only!

Free writing

• Write for 7 minutes on any topic you wish.• Do NOT stop writing.• You do NOT have to write in complete

sentences.

Free writing task

• As a warm-up for writing• To sift through topics• To write in short bursts• To get into the writing habit• To develop fluency• To clarify your thoughts• To stop editing yourself too soon• To increase confidence in writing• To overcome obstacles by articulating them• To put the personal voice into impersonal research

Uses of free writing

• Write for set time on one topic only.• Write in complete sentences.• Write for another reader.

Generative writing

Pomodoro (Francesco Cirillo, 2006)www.pomodorotechnique.com

Pomodoro Technique

6 objectives1.Work out how much effort required to complete task.2.Learn to protect pomodoro from internal / external interruptions.3.Make accurate estimations of how many pomodoros you need for a particular task. 4.Use pomodoro time to work on task AND to recap on previous task / review task just done.5.Set timetable according to your own time agenda.6.After completing these objectives, set your own personal objective, e.g. to be more efficient.

(Cirillo, F (2006) The Pomodoro Technique. http://caps.ucsd.edu/Downloads/tx_forms/koch/pomodoro_handouts/ThePomodoroTechnique_v1-3.pdf. Accessed 18.08.15)

Pomodoro Technique

Talk them through!

•With a partner, take turns talking about your research project.

Strategies for clearing blocks

• Now write for 5 minutes on what you have talked about.

• Write in complete sentences.

Generative writing task

• Stand up, stretch, walk round the room and find someone you haven’t spoken to before.

• Talk about anything, but NOT your thesis!

Take a 5-minute break

Back to writing

• Sit next to the person you have been talking to.

• Write a one sentence summary (25 – 30 words max) of your

thesis/research. • Swap sentences.

For the paper now in front of you…

• Does this sentence express a point of view I, as a reasonable person, could (theoretically) disagree with?

• Does this sentence express an idea or is it really a title?

• swap papers back and discuss.

Rewrite (5 mins)

• Rewrite your sentence, ensuring it is written in a way that someone could agree or disagree with.

• Make sure it contains an idea and is not just a title.

• This is your THESIS (in the literal sense of the word).

Thesis

• ‘A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved.’

(www.oxforddictionaries.com. Accessed: 18.08.15 )

Tips for preventing writer’s block

• Remind yourself of the focus of your writing (your thesis) and delete anything not related.

• Get into a daily writing habit.• Set achievable goals and deadlines – and keep

to them! (Pomodoro technique)• Give yourself rewards as well as targets.• Seek support when you are blocked. supervisor, peers, Researcher Development

team, family members

Session summary

• Reasons for blocks• Techniques for unblocking

Free writing

Generative writing

Pomodoro Technique

• Preventing blocks Regular writing

Goals, deadlines, rewards

Support

ANY QUESTIONS?