Overcoming Writer s Block

1. Overcoming Writer�s Block Dr Jane Griffiths Honours Convenor, LCL

2. Thesis should be... opportunity to become passionately excited about your topic opportunity to explore your topic in more depth than previously possible opportunity to engage in independent scholarship... to become a grown-up, a bona fide academic!!!

3. but all too often it is super clean bedroom accumulation of several dress sizes adoption of various nasty habits perpetuation of facial blemishes an extended masterclass in whinging and procrastination

4. This workshop aims to turn this all around show you that there are clear strategies to overcome the stress of thesis writing help you develop an idea of routine and scheduling demonstrate a number of techniques that will have you writing... in other words, show you how to unblock

5. interlude please write for one minute without hesitation, deviation, or self-censorship your definition of �writer�s block�

6. What is writer�s block Not starting Not continuing Not finishing Feeling stressed Feeling panicked Feeling constantly tired and unable to focus Not knowing how to write Not knowing what to write Not knowing if you can do it Not knowing how to do it Not writing...

7. Reasons not to write: Haven�t read enough Have read too much Haven�t finalised my plan Have more pressing deadlines essays, coursework Personal circumstances family, financial, health Environment too quiet, too loud, too much coffee, not enough coffee

8. Why am I afraid... Fear of failure Fear of success Fear of not being able to finish Fear of not being good enough Fear of supervisor�s disapproval

9. interlude... please write for one minute without hesitation, deviation, or self-censorship, a few sentences starting with the phrase: �I am afraid of writing my thesis because...�

10. Not starting... �Just write the bloody thing� � thanks, Dad. Do you have a routine? What is it? Do you wait for inspiration? How long do you persevere? Do you write as habit?

11. Writer�s block is more about habit than ability You get into a rut; you think you can�t get out of it You can find neither mental stimulation nor physical stamina Writer�s block is the authorial equivalent of letting muscles go to waste Exercise can compensate for inspiration (or lack thereof)

12. Interlude please write for one minute without hesitation, deviation, or self-censorship a few sentences starting with: �I don�t write my thesis everyday because...�

13. Exercises to help... Free writing Incremental writing Binge writing Shared writing Mind-mapping Visualising the end

14. Free writing... writing exercises in which you write with no hesitation, correction, self-censorship for a designated period of time It is not the answer to everything, but it helps the block It can provide keys to unlock the panic It can be integrated into the more formal structure of the thesis plan to give more ideas

15. interlude Without hesitation, stopping or self-censorship, write for one minute on the following: �My research investigates....�

16. interlude #2 Now free write on the following: �My research is significant because...�

17. interlude #3 and now... �My main objective in my research is to demonstrate....�

18. Incremental writing Think of your thesis as made up of chapters: intro Chapt 1 Chapt 2 Chapt 3 Chapt 4 Conclusion

19. Intro Subheadings... Section One: abstract what how who why Section Two literature overview Section Three methodology Section Four description of what you will do

20. Give word counts to those subsections... Intro (2000 words) ... Section One: 200 words abstract what how who why Section Two 1000 words literature overview Section Three 500 words methodology Section Four 300 words description of what you will do

21. It all adds up You can write in the subsections and come back to neaten later. Don�t forget the importance of simplicity �In this chapter, I shall....� �In the last chapter, I demonstrated...� (check about 1st person with supervisor)

22. Binge writing Okay in small doses but you go mad if you do it too often Set aside 30 mins and write for that time. Have 5 min break Set aside 45 mins and write for that time Have 10 min break It all adds up

23. Incremental and binge writing with mates Give yourselves a set time for free/binge writing. After that time, read your work to each other continue process

24. Become a writing addict Define tomorrow�s writing tasks at end of each day Forget about what you haven�t done; concentrate on achievements Send stuff to your supervisor regularly This too will pass.