Everyone assumes, because I’m an English major, I have an endless list of topics and events I want to write about. I am not a writing machine, and contrary to popular belief, I enjoy the rare times that I can relax without worrying about that paper I have to write later. Whether you’re an English major too or not, we have all experienced the dreaded writers block. With writers block comes these mental/emotional/physical stages:
1. Forgetting about the assignment all together.
This usually happens right when we get the assignment. The professor hands it out and we know we have so much time to get it done that there’s no sense worrying about it now.
2. Realizing that you can no longer ignore it.
At this point you decide to take out the guidelines and read them over to see what exactly you should have been doing all this time. Then regretting ignoring it for so long.
3. Waiting for inspiration.
This usually includes staring blankly at your computer screen waiting for something worth moving comes to mind.
4. The epiphany.
Finally! You thought of an idea and can start writing so you can go back to not worrying about this stupid paper.
5. Realizing your idea was not as good as you thought.
By now you are about a page into your paper and realize that your paper makes no sense.
6. When you feel like giving up.
After the false hope you gave yourself, you feel as though you are never going to be done with this assignment and you should just give up so you can go to sleep.
7. The final stretch.
At this point you are so annoyed that you turn this built up anger into determination and decide that you will find a topic, you will finish this paper, and you will do it all in the next hour.
8. Freedom.
Picking that paper off the printer and practically feeling the weight being lifted off your shoulders.
9. Regret.
After you put your paper in your notebook for class tomorrow and realize that maybe this one isn’t as good as you thought either.
10. Ignoring the previous stage and going to bed.
This is when you tell yourself, “oh well, we’ll get ‘em next time.”
I’d like to think that we all learn from this experience is, but the truth is I find myself in this cycle more times than I would like to admit and I bet I’m not alone.