Ah, the moment of truth! You’ve scribbled down plans, outlined ideas, and maybe even outlined about outlining—yet, when it comes time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), you feel that classic writer’s block creeping in. Do you find yourself sitting in front of a blank document, contemplating if you should make a sandwich instead? You’re not alone! Many of my students share a common struggle: waiting until the last minute, hoping that urgency will breathe life into their drafts. But is that really the best approach? This article dives into the art of getting started with writing, offering practical strategies to overcome those daunting mental roadblocks. From prewriting techniques to kickstart creativity, to the tools you can utilize when you discover yourself treading water midway through your draft—let’s explore how we can transform anxiety into action and actually enjoy the writing process. Ready? Let’s navigate this journey together! LEARN MORE.
Writing 101
Having a plan to write is one step, but sitting down to draft can be a daunting next step.
Many of my students, when sharing about their writing process, talked about waiting to draft until they felt the pressure of a deadline. However, this might not be the best or most effective way to start writing, and it also doesn’t address what happens when you get stuck in the middle of your draft.
Prewriting strategies can help you get a grasp of the overall topics, themes, and points that you want to cover in a draft, but when it comes to writing the draft itself, these things may feel insufficient or no longer relevant to what you want to say.
When my students or I get stuck writing, certain strategies, tools, and exercises can help get the words flowing again. Whether it is finding the motivation or inspiration to start or feeling lost in the middle, trying some of the items below can help alleviate some of the drafting issues that many writers face.
Remember the Goal
My students receive prompts that they can work with. In the prompt, they have a designated topic or guide as well as a word-count goal, expectations, and other…
