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| Garrett Kasey Class of 2020 |
While unsuccessfully thinking about what to make the topic of this blog post, I had one of those “Aha!” moments. Writer’s block. It is a disease that has plagued me for years, and one that I haven’t quite solved yet. I’m getting better though. Clearly. I have a topic for this blog now. Since I have now begun to solve the enigma of the writer’s block problem, I am going to give you the gift of my best tips and tricks for getting over the bumps in the road of writing.
1. Daydreaming-- I have found that some of my best ideas come to me when I am thinking of nothing in particular. I believe that this occurs because the subconscious mind is a powerful tool. Sometimes it is best to just free myself for a while and let the ideas come to me.
2. Taking a break-- When I get stuck on a section of a paper or assignment, I have noticed that taking a break from the work is quite effective. Once I’ve been able to focus my mind on something else for a bit, when I look at the assignment again, it’s more fresh and new. This tactic takes the staleness out of writing long or boring papers.
3. Eat-- A nutritious snack while writing can do wonders for the brain. Providing nutrients to the body can help thinking processes and lessen the distraction of hunger. I am personally a big fan of fruit while writing. They have a lot of carbohydrates to aide energy, and they provide many vitamins for the body as well.
4. Read-- This doesn’t mean read a book. It means read through what is already written on the assignment. When I come to a halt in the middle of the paper, reading what I have already written usually helps. Being able to hear the flow of the paper often leads me to figure out the next sentence.
5. Start early-- This is one of the most important lessons of all. In order for most of the others to work, I have to start early on the assignment. Procrastination leads me to cramming all of the work into a short amount of time, and if I catch writer’s block, I am left with no remedy. If I start early, I have plenty of time to daydream and take breaks if I am stuck.
While these are not the complete fix to the problem, they are definitely a start. I have found that these tips and tricks are helpful to me when I get stuck. I hope they are for you too. The main lesson that is related to all of those listed above is to not get discourages. When I become frustrated, I cannot write anything worst reading at all. Keep your head up, and push through it.
Garrett Kasey, of Elizabethtown, Ky., is a freshman McConnell Scholar studying economics, Spanish, political science, and English.