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Health and Wellness

5 Ways To Defeat Writer's Block

For when your essay only has your name on it.

Steven Gosch
Apr 25, 2016
Albright College
18
5 Ways To Defeat Writer's Block
Steven Gosch

Whether you're writing a paper, an article, or a review, writer's block is bound to show its ugly face. What to do in those situations? Here are some ideas.

1. Keep reading this list.

While it may sound obvious, looking for solutions on how to overcome writer's block is actually one of the best ways to overcome writer's block. Doing a quick online search is helpful, but reading this article is also a surefire way to overcome to woes of not knowing how to put your thoughts into words.

2. Clear your mind and take a walk.

When your stuck on how to start the second paragraph of your research paper, go for a walk. Clearing your mind and walking around is not only healthy, but will help you focus on exactly how you want to transition into your paper. The increased blood-flow of moving around will surely help with this as well.

3. Taking a break really has its benefits.

If you're like me, when I do too much at once I get horridly overwhelmed. I can't think straight, I can't sit still, and above all, I can't get the work done in the way I want it to be. If you experience symptoms like this, its advisable to get up and take a break. Whether that be taking a nap, reading the news, or simply staring at your wall, anything to bring your thoughts into order and get you back to reality helps.

4. Use something else to get your thoughts out there.

If you're writing a homework assignment on your computer and get stuck, why not write your thoughts on paper? If you're writing an article with pen and paper, why not try talk-to-text and simply ramble and see if anything it catches can help you move forward? It works for many, and is actually a way to express your creative side.

5. Start in the middle.

This has been a blessing for me, especially when writing papers for college professors. Rather than starting right at the beginning of your post, paper, article, outline, whatever it may be; start in the middle. This not only helps you get your best ideas out there first, but it can also help when you have to add what goes before and after. Having a basic structure in the middle will help creating the introduction (how to get to that basic structure) and the end (what you want to say after that basic structure).

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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