The spring semester is now underway. Everyone has finalized their schedules and, before we know it, midterms will be upon us, and then spring break, and then finals. The essays are coming, the essays are coming! But, sadly, we can't run away from them. When you eventually find yourself starting that first paper of the semester, and when you undoubtedly get stuck sitting there in front of a blank Word document, use some of these tips and see if they help. I feel like I've read all of the "X Tips For Writer's Block" articles that exist, but I've found some new techniques to share with you all. Give 'em a try.

1. Break the assignment up into smaller, more manageable tasks.

According to Flavorwire, this advice comes straight from Mark Twain, so you know it should work:

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.”

2. Outline everything first.

This way, you know where you're going and you can figure out how to get there. Plus, if you have an outline you won't have to look at a completely blank document, which can be very intimidating and discouraging.

3. Splat your brain all over a piece of paper.

This is otherwise known as "free writing," and it can help get the juices flowing.

4. Talk it out.

Call a friend, your mom, a partner or basically anyone who will listen, and tell them what you're writing about. If you're stuck because you don't know what you want to say, they can help you brainstorm. If you do know what you want to say, but you just don't know where to start, outline your essay in the exact way that you talk about it with your friend. It's good to have a natural flow in an essay, and the easiest way to figure out what that is is to notice the order in which you talk about it.

5. Don't start at the beginning.

If you're stuck writing a catchy intro, skip it and come to it later. In the meantime, write about what comes easiest to you -- this could even be the conclusion. Then piece it all together and add transitions at the end. This way, you won't waste time hemming and hawing over one part when you could be working on another.

6. Time yourself.

The Pomodoro Technique can be very useful, and there are tons of apps to make timing yourself very easy. Set a word limit for yourself, and just type as much as you can without editing. Sort of like number 3, this can get the juices flowing and get some material you can work with on the page.

7. Make a writing schedule.

This can take multiple forms. You could set aside a specific period of time every day to write, or you could just plan out when to work on a specific project in your calendar. It's up to you. Whatever you do, though, it's helpful to know when you're supposed to be working so you don't plan other activities.

8. Work on something else.

This may seem counter-intuitive, but if you do another smaller task before starting, it can give you some working momentum. This doesn't work for everyone, but I know that my partner normally cleans his room or something before settling down to write an essay.

9. Stop when you know what comes next.

This is a technique Ernest Hemingway used, and he's considered one of the greatest writers that ever lived (although that's debatable...):

“The best way is always to stop when you are going good and when you know what will happen next. If you do that every day… you will never be stuck. Always stop while you are going good and don’t think about it or worry about it until you start to write the next day. That way your subconscious will work on it all the time. But if you think about it consciously or worry about it you will kill it and your brain will be tired before you start.”

10. Pretend that you're someone who actually knows what they're talking about.

Even though you should know what you're talking about, sometimes you really just... don't. Whatever you're writing on, pretend that you're an expert in that field. Philosophy? Descartes. Crocodiles? Steve Irwin. Even if you feel silly, it can help you imagine a sense of confidence on the topic that can boost you into productivity.

11. Change your audience.

Sometimes writing can feel much less stressful when you're not as afraid of what the other person may think. Bosses and professors can be scary. As John Steinbeck apparently said, a change of audience can help:

“Pretend that you’re writing not to your editor or to an audience or to a readership, but to someone close, like your sister, or your mother, or someone that you like.”

12. Take a break.

This is a classic tip, but I still feel like I need to include it. Sitting for eight straight hours in the library won't help you work if you're stressed out or anxious the entire time. Take a short walk outside, call a friend or family member to chat for a few minutes, or go pet a dog. Getting out of your own head has its benefits.

13. Change your location.

Another classic tip, I've found this one to work quite well. Sometimes it's best for me to write when I'm in complete silence and completely alone, but other times it's energizing to be in a coffee shop or student union. Find your study spaces and rotate where you work every couple of days.

14. Think about the benefits of getting this done, and if there aren't many motivating ones, pretend like there are.

Often times, when I'm writing a paper for a class that I just despise, I pretend that I'm getting paid to do it. Of course, I'm not. (I wish I was.) But if I pretend like I will be, then there's an extra sense of accountability there. If I don't finish the essay, then I won't get "paid," and I won't be able to buy that really cute blouse from ASOS.

15. Most importantly of all, don't try to be perfect.

It won't save you from anything. Anne Lamott has a great quote on this in her book "Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life" (a great read, by the way):

“Perfectionism is the voice of the oppressor, the enemy of the people. It will keep you cramped and insane your whole life, and it is the main obstacle between you and a shitty first draft. I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die. The truth is that you will die anyway and that a lot of people who aren't even looking at their feet are going to do a whole lot better than you, and have a lot more fun while they're doing it.

That quote is also very useful outside the context of essay writing. The next time you're anxious and finding it difficult to start something--whether that's an essay or something else--think about that quote and these other tips.

Happy writing!