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Ebun Omilaju

August 4th, 2020, how to overcome academic writer’s block.

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Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

I genuinely think academic writer’s block is a real thing (some say it’s an alternative term for procrastination). You have the ideas all in your head, but when it comes to the practical task of getting the writing done it just doesn’t seem to quite happen. I can openly say that I have experienced this at several points during my master’s programme, and I found this increased during lockdown. Minutes turn to hours and hours to days. But no matter how hard you try, every time you sit down to do your work, you don’t seem to make the progress that you desire and you end up occupying your time with other things. If you have experienced any of the above I would like to give you some tips to help you get out of this space and get you closer to meeting that upcoming deadline. Please note that these tips are in no particular order and you can select the points that are most suitable for you:

Identify your main distractions and get rid of them! In this period I have found myself swiping from app to app, twitter to Instagram, the occasional peek at Snapchat and the cycle starts again. I, therefore, had to delete the apps that were taking up most of my time, and sometimes I turn my phone off altogether. Distractions can be anything, from social media to a messy workspace, do what you can to avoid such distractions during times that you want to work. Also if your distractions are people that you are living with, be it family or friends, please don’t get rid of them, but try and study at times where they cannot distract you, late at night or in the early hours of the morning.
If you feel like your thoughts are overwhelming find the best outlet to release them. Writing is often my go to as I am an avid journaler, so I usually write out how I am feeling. Other outlets to release overwhelming thoughts can be singing, drawing, speaking out loud (be mindful of this one in public spaces lol) and speaking to close family or friends. There are ways beyond this but these are a few suggestions.

Just do it, just write. Even if your writing is all over the place and unrefined, this is not the final piece. So if you’re someone that is a perfectionist (like myself), let that all go at the initial stage and get in the flow of writing. When proofreading and revising your work, perfectionism will then come in handy.
Look for a documentary on the subject you are writing on. Sometimes when I don’t feel like writing or reading, I watch. I’m currently doing my dissertation on Human Trafficking and I must say that YouTube is a great resource, I also found a few films on Netflix, which broadened my knowledge in the subject area. As with any other information, if you would like to use the information you come across from a documentary, be sure to check the validity of the source. But please, there is a time and place for this tip. If you only have a few days till a big deadline please kindly skip to tip number 6!

Use voice dictation typing. This feature is available on both Google Docs and Microsoft Word. When you are struggling to write, sometimes it can be easier to dictate your thoughts. Voice dictation typing may not always be accurate but you can always edit what has been written. If you want to use this feature I would recommend watching a YouTube guide which will show you how to use it properly.
Speak to friends on your course or friends who are also studying. Share your challenges with them and they may be able to give you good advice based on their experiences (I got tip number 7 through having a conversation with a friend).
Get an accountability partner, someone that you trust – It can be a course mate, a friend outside of your studies or a family member. But essentially set goals, share it with them and then report back to them on your progress. This can be done on a daily, weekly or monthly basis, depending on the deadline and your personal preferences. It helps if they’re also working towards something so they can be accountable to you.

I hope this list has been helpful and even if you haven’t experienced a writer’s block, perhaps you can share this with a friend who has. Please note that this is not an extensive list, there are several more ways to overcome academic writer’s block. Perhaps you can share some tips in the comments below – I would love to hear what has helped you.

About the author

Hello there! My name is Ebun and I’m currently pursuing a Master's in Development Studies. My top areas of interest are Globalisation, Human Trafficking and Youth Empowerment. In my free time, you would find me baking, listening to music or on a flight comparison site, searching for my next holiday destination.

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7 Ways To Beat PhD Writer’s Block

Mar 21, 2019

Writing your PhD thesis is the most rewarding accomplishment of your education. It’s what allows you to call yourself “Doctor”.

One problem: it’s hundreds of pages long and writing anything of that length can feel like climbing a mountain, even if you’ve written papers for your coursework. You promise yourself you’ll get started next week. Or you enjoy a few productive weeks and then you can’t seem to keep going.

Then the deadline grows shorter. You start to worry, “I’m so far behind. Can I ever catch up? I’m a good student. So why haven’t I been more productive?”

What’s causing the delay is nothing other than PhD writers’ block — something every professional writer (and yes, every professor) has experienced. So how are they still churning out articles and books at a prolific rate and you can’t get past five pages?

The difference is, they don’t stop writing. They’ve learned a few ways to trick their writers’ block into a burst of creativity.

Below we present 7 ways to beat writers’ block and become a highly productive writer. You won’t just finish your dissertation on time. Your life will become less stressed and you’ll have plenty of time to get everything done.

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1. write every day.

Some people prefer to work according to a set time frame. They’ll write for 30 or 45 minutes each day.

Others prefer to count words, setting the bar as low as 300-500 . That’s the length of a long-ish email to a good friend. Once you’ve written your 500 words you get to stop, whether you need fifteen minutes or a whole hour.  The key is, you can keep going as long as you like. But the next day you still have to write 30 minutes or 300 new words, or whatever target you have set yourself.

Don’t worry about form or style. It’s much easier to edit than to start from scratch. Just keep the words flowing and avoid skipping even one day. When you do, the next day will be even harder.

2. Can’t figure out what to write?

Imagine you’re typing an email to a good friend. Write about why you’re not writing, such as:  

“I’ve got these five variables in my model. How I will measure X1, X2, X4 and X5. X3 is a challenge. How can I figure out how to measure X3? Ask my advisor? Research to see what others have done?”

Let’s face it: you know what your dissertation’s going to be about. What’s scary is putting it into a form you can send to your advisor.

So start with this chatty format. You might look up two hours later to find your coffee has gotten cold and you’ve drafted the entire proposal — or chapter — in one sitting. You won’t be the first.

3. Find your writing nook

Find a place where you can write, you’re free from distractions and where you aren’t tempted to do anything else.

Very quickly you’ll start to associate this place with writing. Your thoughts will automatically turn to your dissertation and you’ll be able to jump right in.

If you’re assigned to share an office with one or two other students, you’ll probably find that’s not a great place to write. You can’t control distractions. If you or your office mates also serve as teaching assistants, you may also get students showing up at all hours.

Some doctoral students set up a home office, even if it’s a corner of their living room or kitchen table. Others actually find a home in the local coffee shop. Some get assigned to a library carrel; you’re not alone but nobody’s allowed to talk.

A few graduate students join co-working spaces — places where you rent a desk by the day or month. You’ll need to shop around for a co-working space that fits your style and budget. A big advantage of this approach is that everyone in the room works really hard. You’ll feel social pressure to keep working. Best of all, the other members understand if you’re too busy to talk. You feel more like a grown-up with a job, so you’re likely to take the whole thing much more seriously.

5. Build in some down time

When I was writing my dissertation, I was teaching full-time at a state university. I would teach, deal with students and enjoy some downtime. In the evening I’d go to my office and work on my dissertation for three or four hours, almost every night.

The toughest part was getting home after midnight in a college town: the campus police would escort me to my car and every so often I’d meet a smirking student with that “what did you do?” look.

Nevertheless, my dissertation got done ahead of schedule and I got to say “I told you so” to all the nay-sayers who proclaimed, “You’ll never finish if you teach.”  The key is to set a firm schedule that will be a non-negotiable. You never think, “Should I start working now?” You just go.

It’s also important to choose a time that harmonizes with your natural rhythms. At that time, I liked working late. As a bonus, there were no distractions: nobody else was around.

Some of my colleagues would rise early, begin work at 7, and end their day around noon. They’d take the entire afternoon and evening off without a single twinge of guilt.

Best of all, you create a habit, just as you did with your workspace. When your work time rolls around, you’ll automatically tune into your dissertation. As you make progress, you’ll actually look forward to each work session.

6. Set up a supportive accountability buddy or hire a coach

Find a classmate — not necessarily in the same department — who’s also writing a dissertation. Some buddies meet weekly to share what they’ve done. Some have daily telephone check-ins. What matters is that you’re comfortable with the arrangement so you’ll be motivated to keep going.

Set the ground rules: no judgment, no scolding, and no false praise. You’ll want to look forward to each meeting.

You might decide to ask each other questions, but you might just report progress. Consistency is more important than format.

If you can afford the fees, it’s not unusual for doctoral students to hire a life coach or career coach to stay motivated. Hiring a coach can be a good move if your advisor isn’t particularly helpful, if you’re experiencing an unusual amount of stress or if your department is so lacking in collegiality that you can’t find a buddy.

You call your coach three or four times a month to report progress. Coaches are trained to offer encouragement without hype. You may find yourself experiencing personal as well as professional growth.

7. Promise yourself a meaningful but completely realistic reward.

I began planning my graduation party long before I finished writing. Some of my classmates planned travel, reunions with family, or even weddings. Knowing you’ve got a light waiting at the end of the tunnel does two things: you get motivated and you keep things in perspective. This is just one blip in your life. There’s no need to stress over it.

The end is closer than you think …

Don’t wait! Once you get momentum going, you’ll start to feel rewarded as you pass each milestone.  Believe it or not, many PhDs carry happy memories of writing their dissertations. It’s a rare chance to focus on one significant research problem. You’re learning skills you will use throughout your career, especially if you engage in research. And you’ll never forget the moment when you walk across that stage to claim your degree, and someone calls you “Doctor” for the very first time.

If, in spite of these seven tips, you’re still unhappy with what you’re writing and how you’re writing it then get in touch. We’re the foremost PhD writing experts . We won’t write your thesis for you, but we can help you to present your writing in the best possible light.

Hello Doctor…

Sounds good, doesn’t it? Be able to call yourself Doctor sooner with our five-star rated How to Write A PhD email-course. Learn everything your supervisor should have taught you about planning and completing a PhD.

Now half price. Join hundreds of other students and become a better thesis writer, or your money back.

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