| Are you staring at the empty page for hours? Well | | | | clear thesis statement and the summary of the |
| let me tell you something. You got writer's block. | | | | article), the main body (3-4 claims followed by |
| Writer's block is an inability to write. Possibly, all | | | | sentences that provide concrete examples to |
| writers have faced it. It is need to be stressed that | | | | support each claim) and the conclusion. Finally, |
| writer's block says there is a problem with your | | | | remember that your outline doesn't have to be |
| project. The whole point here is: ask yourself | | | | perfect. In fact, you can always deviate from your |
| honestly what are the reasons that contribute to | | | | outline. The truth is that the more detailed the |
| your difficulty in writing. Don't you need more | | | | outline, the easier it is to write the text. Above all, |
| information? Don't you pick something big and | | | | authors say that to start with an outline will liberate |
| obvious? Aren't you dealing with uncomfortable | | | | your energy and attention for the actual writing. |
| material? Don't you have your own point of view | | | | 3. Start your text anywhere. Don't you know where |
| about the subject? Note that writing is a process, a | | | | to start? Do not worry about beginnings and endings. |
| series of steps or stages that include a whole array | | | | In general, the orderly progression writing method |
| of support tasks that you should be able to deal with | | | | doesn't work. Thus, you should redesign the process: |
| -- and most of the steps in the process don't look | | | | create the body first, then your introduction and the |
| anything like the polished work. | | | | conclusion. Remember that you do not have to begin |
| Besides that, you should not to confound writer's | | | | at the beginning. Now that all the pieces are there |
| block with procrastination. Procrastination is the habit | | | | you can verify if it is working as a whole. The trick |
| of putting tasks off to the last minute. Finally, it is | | | | here is to never fall into useless reflection. |
| worth observing that the Princeton Writing Program | | | | 4. Keep a draft mentality. Nothing you write needs to |
| believes that "a degree of procrastination and writer's | | | | be definitive. The best-selling author Steven Barnes |
| block are a common part of writing". Get the picture? | | | | says that novice writers must work through "a million |
| There is nothing wrong with you. Now you get to be | | | | word of garbage before reaching their true voice." |
| clever. And while there is no magic formula for | | | | How true. So do not be afraid to write garbage. |
| getting started, there are many ways you can handle | | | | More specifically, there are two states connected to |
| with writer's block and to get on with your creative | | | | writing: flow (relaxed concentration, it's when you |
| idea. Keep the following five tips in mind. | | | | write) and edit. I suggest this: first, create rough |
| 1. Identify your topic. Before you write, you should | | | | draft (and here don't worry about grammar, |
| state the essence of your message in one sentence. | | | | punctuation, sentence structure and other petty |
| This is your thesis statement (otherwise known as a | | | | concerns). Then, polish the work you did. You might |
| controlling idea) around which you are going to make | | | | even try alternating: writing one day, editing the next. |
| your text. If you cannot narrow your point down to | | | | Finally, after three or four drafts you can reorganize |
| one single sentence, either you are not clear about | | | | and shape your text. |
| what you are trying to say or you have more than | | | | 5. Break your task down into building blocks. Never |
| one topic. Ultimately, the key to writing a clear text | | | | make the mistake of forgetting that abstract tasks |
| is to build it around a clear thesis statement. | | | | require concrete building blocks. Maybe you will find |
| 2. Have a plan. Create an outline or a road map of | | | | helpful to break your task into smaller units. So you |
| your text. The outline is an organized list of your | | | | need to sit down and use the timeboxing method. I |
| main points about the topic; it is a point-by-point | | | | suggest this: select a small piece of the task |
| summary of your ideas. First, set out a list of | | | | (remember Tip 3 above and eliminate the linearity |
| headings about your topic. These headings are the | | | | obsession) that you can work on for 15 or 30 |
| supporting points of your argument. Try to write full | | | | minutes. Then, plan a big, juicy reward. If you follow |
| sentences for it will help to express your ideas | | | | this tip through, as a result you could possibly |
| coherently. And these sentences will be the | | | | continue working longer than 30 minutes. |
| mini-thesis (claim) for every paragraph. Then, simply | | | | There are many other ideas, but I think these will get |
| expand your claims. | | | | you started. Now you have a way to blast through |
| Plainly, an article is composed by these four must | | | | that block and get back to your writing. |
| have elements: a good title, a short introduction (a | | | | |