Writer’s Block – 4 easy ways to overcome writer’s block

27.04.20 Study tips Time to read: 8min

How do you like this article?

0 Reviews


Writer´s-Block-355x237

Definition: Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is a condition in which the writer loses the ability to come up with new content. This condition is the result of numerous factors and can last anywhere from a couple of hours to a few months, or even years. When a writer experiences writer’s block, he or she is be unable to produce any new or original content during that period of time. Writer’s block is not only an issue for authors, it is a problem faced by many college and university students when they are working on their thesis.

Use the final format revision to perfect your thesis
Revise your thesis formatting one last time with our futuristic 3D preview function before sending it to print. It gives an accurate virtual representation of what the physical outcome will resemble, so the final product meets your expectations.
Ireland
Ireland

For quite some time now, writer’s block has been a hot subject among college and university students. While some students argue that it doesn’t exist, some agree that it is there and they have no idea how to deal with it. Fortunately, this article will give an in-depth analysis of writer’s block. It will answer some of the frequently asked questions and, most importantly, give you some proven methods on how to overcome it.

Helpful tip: Don’t stress out, here’s how you can easily come up with research questions easy.

FAQ's

Yes, writer’s block is a major problem that quite a few students face every day. Most people who experience writer’s block have no idea what it is. Often, they just feel stuck creatively and find themselves lacking inspiration for their academic writing.

Writer’s block doesn’t have a time frame. If you are lucky, it will last only for an hour or two. However, for some people, it can go on for much longer ranging from days to weeks. Unfortunately, having writer’s block is not a reasonable reason for handing in your thesis late. A tip on how to overcome writer’s block is to start by coming up with your research questions. This way, you should be able to get some inspiration flowing.

No, writer’s block has a number of causes. Some are due to the nature of the writer’s work, while others are due to external factors such as stress and fatigue, among others. You can try to fight off writer’s block by reading academic writing blogs (like you’re doing now) or reading thesis, essay or term paper examples.

No, some people never experience it, while others are prone to it. You just need to understand your writing style, what inspires you and the requirements of your academic essay. It’s important that you’re interested in the topic you’re writing about. If you find your topic boring, then this may be a cause for your writer’s block.

Yes, there are numerous ways to overcome writer’s block. You may need to simply have a break and go for a walk, or you may need to switch up your writing schedule. Whatever it is, we’ll help you get to the root cause of your writer’s block. We share some tips on how to overcome this condition in detail below, in order to help you expedite your academic writing process.

Yes, in fact, distraction is one of the main causes of writer’s block, especially when you have to work on important papers like a thesis. Other causes like stress, health issues and external pressures can also be a reason that you’re facing writer’s block. However, these causes will be discussed in detail later in this article.

No, you are actually not advised to write through a writer’s block. That is one of the worst ways to overcome the condition when writing an article or research paper. By continuing to write when uninspired, you risk producing inadequate content and having to rewrite it later, hence wasting time that you may not have.

Causes of Writer’s Block

  • Exhaustion
    As a student, you should be aware that you cannot operate at optimum performance for long hours without rest. If you do this, your brain will become fatigued, and it will lose its capability to think and supply you with fresh ideas. This is one of the main reasons why most people tend to face writer’s block during their studies.
  • Health conditions
    There are a number of health conditions that tend to meddle with your brain and diminish your ability to come up with new content. Some of the most prevalent health conditions that usually bring about writer’s block include diabetes and underactive thyroid. Once you start feeling like your cognitive functions are lessening, make an appointment with your health professional to see if there is some underlying condition.
  • Distractions
    Apart from exhaustion, distraction is another common cause of writer’s block among students. Most students can’t just come up with new content when they are surrounded by distractions. This is because they have trained their brains to handle one task at a time. This means that whenever a distraction comes up, their brains will close down.
  • Pressure
    Many students tend to wait until the deadline is looming before they start working on a given assignment. The pressure of finishing and submitting their work on time tends to build up and overwhelms the brain. This is when writer’s block creeps in. Some may have such a hard time that they cannot create anything, no matter how hard they try.
  • Fear of the task at hand
    Sometimes, you will find yourself experiencing writer’s block due to the overwhelming nature of the task at hand. For example, the mere thought of writing a Bachelor’s thesis or Master’s thesis can cause the brain to freeze up.

TIP: Sometimes you have a writer’s block because you don’t know how to start your thesis. This article will help you: How to write an introduction

How to Overcome Writer’s Block

If one of the above-mentioned causes applies to you and you are dealing with writer’s block, try not to let yourself feel exasperated. The list below covers some methods you can use to overcome writer’s block.

What NOT to Do to Overcome Writer’s Block

There are numerous methods that a student experiencing writer’s block might try to overcome it. If you have been using any of the methods below to overcome writer’s block, then you have been using the wrong approach.

If you are the type of student who can never write when distracted, give in. Go ahead and find a quiet place that has no distractions. This way, you will be able to regain your concentration and start coming up with quality and original content.

If you are given your assignment early, don’t wait for the deadline to come around before you to start fumbling with it. This will just make you forget all the information you were supposed to write about. Instead, get started before the pressure builds up. This will enable you to overcome your writer’s block or rather, avoid attracting the condition in the first place.

Sometimes the best way to relax your body, mind and soul is by going for a walk. Just take some time alone and enjoy the fresh air as you wander through the campus. You will be amazed at how something as simple as a walk will work miracles. At the end of the day, you will be able to work through your writing assignment with no problems whatsoever.

If you tend to do your writing assignments late at night, try switching the time. Wake up early in the morning and start writing. This will enable you to create great content without experiencing writer’s block. It is by far the best way to get your essays or thesis written to perfection.

Trying to write through writer’s block is one of the worst approaches. This method is merely a waste of time. Once your brain stops reasoning, you can’t force it to produce something original. Even if you do produce something, the quality of your content will be very poor.

The last thing you should do is overexert yourself with the aim of getting different results. Instead of exerting yourself, take a break, otherwise you might end up with a headache, and this will leave you completely exhausted.

Writer’s Block and Your Thesis  

Students quite often experience writer’s block while they are working on their master’s thesis or bachelor’s thesis. This is because during this period, most of the above causes present themselves. You might find yourself unable to write a single paragraph, never mind an entire page. The only way to overcome it is by trying to avoid the elements that brought it on in the first place.

Avoid point deductions in your final paper
Citing sources or paraphrasing passages incorrectly are common causes for point deductions. Take just 10 minutes out of your schedule to run your paper through our online plagiarism checker and submit your paper with confidence.
thesis-statement-thesis-printing-binding-250x250

Thesis Printing & Binding

You are already done writing your thesis and need a high quality printing & binding service? Then you are right to choose BachelorPrint! Check out our 24-hour online printing service. For more information click the button below:

In a Nutshell

Writer’s block is a condition that makes the brain to lose its ability to come up with new content. Some of the factors that cause the condition include exhaustion, a health condition, distractions, pressure and fear of the task at hand.

The condition usually affects those people who need to develop original content, such as students. If you are afflicted by this condition, you can overcome it by avoiding distractions, going for a walk, switching working hours and avoiding working under pressure. There are some people who tend to write through the condition or overexert themselves in order to overcome it. Those two methods are hugely discouraged.