Let’s not beat around the bush! Writer’s block is the worst and if we had one wish, we would eradicate it from the human experience. Alas, we don’t have any wishes, but what we do have is helpful tips to help you overcome writer’s block when writing college essays.
You already have the writing skills, but when it comes to sitting down and producing that essay, you might as well be asked to climb Mount Everest. Now, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are things you can do to re-inspire yourself and get that essay done, continue reading to discover them!
8 Tips to Beat Writer’s Block When Writing Essays
- Do Some Freewriting Exercises
Sometimes, writer’s block stems from the pressure to be perfect. If you feel that weight on your shoulders when you sit down to write an essay, you should do freewriting exercises to get out of that funk. Take the topic of your essay and just write whatever you want.
Don’t worry about grammar or whether the information is correct. Freewriting can look however you want; you can do short snippets, random phrases, bullet points, etc. Writing is all that matters and soon enough, you’ll feel the weight lifting from your shoulders and you’ll be ready to tackle your essay.
- Give Yourself Some Brainstorming Questions to Answer
If your writer’s block is so severe you don’t even know what to do with your essay, answering brainstorming questions can help. Think about a topic related to your essays and come up with questions that will get your gears in motion.
The point of this exercise is to be introspective. It doesn’t matter if the questions are not immediately relevant to the essay. What matters is they get you thinking. Once you start writing the answers, it will be easier to find a topic for your essay or decide on the focus you want to adopt.
- Discuss Your Essay With Someone
College essays are constantly asking you to reflect on yourself and flesh out your own perspective and ideas. However, writer’s block can get in the way of that. It’s not always easy to translate our thoughts on paper.
Talking things through with someone will give your brain a break from the blank page and it will help you explore, dissect, and organize your ideas a lot better. Moreover, the person you talk to will provide their perspective, bring up interesting points, and even challenge you, which will snap you out of that writer’s block.
- Read Essays or Listen to a Podcast
When you’re lacking inspiration, reading other people’s essays or listening to a podcast is a great way to light that fire inside of you again. Reading or listening to other people either tell their stories or explain their ideas and perspectives, will give you ideas and help you get out of that writer’s block.
We recommend you read essays or books when you have the time to spare, but if you’re short on time, podcasts or audiobooks are a lot easier to get through. TED Talks can also help tremendously, especially if they’re on the topic of your essay. Overall, reading or listening to inspired people is a great motivator.
- Find a Different Environment
Sometimes, your environment could be what’s causing your writer’s block. If you’re somewhere you don’t feel comfortable or that doesn’t help you focus or that doesn’t inspire you, you need to switch things up.
You could go to a library, a quiet outdoor area, a cafe, etc. A change of scenery can really do wonders for your brain and your productivity. Just make sure you choose a place that’s comfortable where you can write.
- Take a Break and Get Some Exercise
As you may already know, exercising releases endorphins and other chemicals that stimulate the brain. So, if you’re experiencing writer’s block and you feel like you’ve hit a dead end, take a break and get some exercise. You can go on a walk or a run, practice a sport, find a home workout video, or go to the gym.
A little bit of exercise can go a long way! It will give your mind a break from the blank page and the released chemicals will wake your brain up. Plus, you will feel energized and your body will welcome the movement, especially if you’ve been sitting for a few hours.
- Turn to Pen and Paper
Since most college applications are submitted online nowadays, students are used to typing their essays. However, if you’re experiencing writer’s block, changing your medium can make all the difference in the world. Not only is it difficult to face the blank screen, but it’s also difficult to not get distracted because the internet is just a click away.
So, whenever you find yourself feeling a bit stuck, grab a pen and some paper or a notebook, play some ambient music, and just start writing. Jot down ideas, prepare a structure, explore your ideas and their opposites, etc. This simple switch to pen and paper can help your ideas flow a lot better so when you switch to typing, your essay will write itself.
- Don’t Start at the Beginning
Let’s be honest, not everything about essay writing is enjoyable. So, instead of starting at the beginning, why not start with the part of the essay you enjoy the most? For example, if writing the conclusion is your favorite part, start there.
Once you have your structure mapped out, you can start with the parts that come easiest to you. Then, you can complete the rest. This way, you can beat writer’s block and make good use of your time instead of wasting hours just looking at a blank screen, forcing yourself to write when it’s just not happening.
Conclusion
However unbeatable writer’s block can feel, we promise you’re stronger! Try these tips the next time you feel stuck and you will find what works for you. Before you know it, you will have completed your essay and enjoyed the process.