Writer’s block is something we here often from authors of our favourite books. It is a common question that gets asked during interviews and every author has his or her own unique way of overcoming this problem. This is essentially a problem whereby you cannot think of what to write next and there seems to be an obvious block to the logical flow of writing.
This is encountered by students in their essay writing as well. In English and English literature, essay writing is an important component that contributes a significant percentage to the total grade. Essay writing is a skill that students need to carry with them throughout their academic life. And cohesive, structured writing is a skill needed in many other aspects of life other than academics.
So, here are some ways in which students can overcome their writer’s block!
#1: ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
The best way to overcome a challenge in studies is to practice consistently. You could allocate an hour or so in the mornings and evenings, set a timer, and practice writing for that time period. You can pick out essay topics the night before and write out them out. Thereafter, you could present them to our English tuition teacher and ask for their feedback on the writing.
When your tutors provide constructive feedback, you should analyse and understand what the learning points are. With subsequent practice, you should make sure that the same mistakes are not repeated and every piece of work should reflect a gradual improvement.
#2: BRAINSTORMING
The more that you allow your brain to think creatively, the easier that this process becomes. Overtime, there will be less friction in trying to think of points of arguments and points of balance at the beginning of writing an essay.
Argumentative essays require students to be well-aware of current affairs nationally and internationally, and above this, they need to have their own personal opinions about them as well. It will be helpful for students to consciously spend time to think about the pros and cons of a social movement, the downsides and benefits of a policy that is being enacted, or think about the repercussions of a riot of war happening in another corner of the world.
This enables students to easily come up with content during an examination. A significant amount of time can be saved and put to better use for the construction of arguments and making sure the essay flows logically.
#3: SEEK INSPIRATION
Instead of dwelling on your piece of incomplete writing, take a step back and look at the bigger picture. Inspiration leads to new ideas; it’s almost like a breath of fresh air. Engaging in non-writing activities is the best way to do this. You can go out to watch a movie, watch a documentary at home, engage in some physical activities, interact with the people around you and do anything under the sun which makes you happy.
The brain needs to have a break and switching between tasks and doing something that is the complete opposite of the routine you are used to, would be a good change of scenery for the mind. You will eventually realise that this switching helps you to think multi-dimensionally after a sustained period of writer’s block.
So, get out of your chair and seek some inspiration to improve your writing!