5 Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block

Knowledge mobilisation is an integral component of the research process. Research is only as beneficial as the people it is able to reach and influence. A journal article is one of the most common, heavily weighted, and potentially stressful knowledge mobilization output of any research project. With all of the pressure of transmitting potentially years of hard work into a succinctly packaged product, it’s no wonder that writer’s block is a common phenomenon among new and seasoned researchers alike. If this is something that you’re currently experiencing, fear not! Our dedicated and experienced Academy Edits team has compiled five tips to help you overcome your writer’s block and unleash your creative flow.

Take a step back and breathe

It is hard to get anything rolling when you are feeling tired, overwhelmed, and frustrated. So for starters, stand up, take a break, go for a walk or ride if possible, and breathe. Take deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Focus on your breath and start to block out and reframe any negative self-talk that you have going on. Yes, what you are going through is annoying and stressful but you will triumph over this challenge. Beating yourself up and spinning your wheels in the mud is only going to make you more stuck. You've got this so long as you give yourself a chance to reset and shake it off. Now you are ready to try out some new approaches and formulate a plan for how you will crush your writing task.

Try freewriting

Oftentimes, our quest for perfectionism causes blockages in our thoughts and creativity. The whole point of writing a draft is to get ideas on paper which you can later revise. So, take any concerns that you have about grammar, structure, word complexity, or flow and park them. Now simply start writing freely as though you are conversing with someone about the topic. Using a “dictation” option on your smart phone or word processor works magic for this. Still stuck? Write out a prompt like, “what is the main point of this paragraph?” and begin writing. By giving yourself permission to let your ideas flow freely and without judgement, you are bypassing your inner critic and tapping into the wealth of knowledge that exists in your subconscious mind.

Make an actionable plan

Writing is very much a mental game. So it is very important to break down the overall writing process into manageable sub tasks. Creating structure will also help you to better guide yourself in the content that you need to generate. Start with the overarching problem that your work is addressing and then move into laying out the aims of each manuscript section and how each supporting paragraph meets the aim (both as a standalone paragraph and in the context of the other surrounding paragraphs). Focus on bite sized increments and set SMART goals for each writing session. Our Academy Edits staff like to set a 30-60 minute timer to help ensure that they get up and stretch and recharge. Whenever possible, they also try to limit designated writing sessions to a total of 4 hours a day. This supports the building of steady momentum and avoidance of head fog and burn out. Perhaps most importantly, celebrate your progress and commitment to your plan!

Set a routine

Some of the most effective writers that we know set a consistent routine that they stick to (barring a major calamity). This does not necessarily mean always writing in the same place. In fact, many people benefit from changes in scenery and surrounding stimulation. What this does mean though is “blocking” time to write for a set amount of time daily. When writing becomes routine it not only becomes a priority, but you are also helping remove the unnecessary emotional energy you otherwise spend on trying to psych yourself up rather than talk yourself out of writing. Something that can help with creating/sticking to a routine is social support! Consider having a “writing buddy” that helps keep you accountable to your new routine through regular progress updates. You may also find a virtual/in- person writing club helpful. Writing buddies and clubs are a great way to establish/maintain writing routines, with the added benefit of gaining social support from like-minded individuals that understand what you are experiencing and share your goals of success.

Practice self-compassion and adopt a growth mindset

A surefire way to make a tough situation tougher is to beat yourself up with negative self-talk. Writing is challenging for many people and composing a manuscript is an iterative and time-consuming process. Trash the negative self-judgement as its not doing you any good. Instead, focus on building yourself up as you would a friend or a loved one. If you’re committed to meeting your writing goals, you may as well try to get some enjoyment out of the process and treat is as an opportunity to learn something new – be it about the content matter, the process of writing, or yourself.