What to Do When You're Feeling Stuck?

What to do When You’re Stuck

It’s perfectly normal to feel stuck on an assignment, a paper, or a project. It can be overwhelming to see a long list of requirements and not know how to begin. It’s also common to experience writer’s block when you are in the middle of an assignment and are not sure how to continue. Wherever you are in the writing process, here are some strategies for how to get “un-stuck.”

 

Getting Started

  • Try not to panic. It is okay to feel stuck and to not know how to begin. Everyone experiences this feeling sometimes, so don’t worry.
  • Make sure you understand the assignment.
    • “Ask yourself a few basic questions as you read and jot down the answers on the assignment sheet:
  • Brainstorm! Check out some brainstorming tips here.
  • Write down your ideas and the ideas that then stem from them. This will help you organize your primary ideas/goals. You can then turn these ideas into a more complete outline.
  • While researching, a good place to start is identifying places you disagree with other claims
  • Be patient. It will take time to come up with your ideas and get them sorted. Don’t rush the process.
  • You can change your mind! The ideas you put down in your first draft don’t have to be the ideas you stick with the whole time. You can come up with new ideas and revise.
  • Listen to music. For some people, music can help the process of brainstorming and coming up with ideas.
  • Don’t worry about the small things. Grammar and spelling can be a concern for later drafts. In the beginning, just focus on getting started and writing your ideas.
  • Trust yourself! Your ideas don’t have to be like anyone else’s. You have something to say and you don’t need to compare your work with someone else.

Don’t Know Where to Go From Here?

Sometimes you get part-way through a paper and you don’t know where to go from there. Maybe you’ve said everything you planned to say and you’ve run out of ideas. Writer’s block is not an uncommon occurrence and there are several ways to try to combat it.

Can’t Figure Out How to Start the Paper?
  • You do not need to start writing with the first paragraph. If you can’t think of a way to begin the paper, write somewhere else. The introduction doesn’t have to be the first thing you write. It can even be beneficial to write the opening later in the process when you understand your arguments and purpose better.
What if You are Not Interested in Your Topic?
  • Sometimes you get assigned a topic that just doesn’t spark interest which can make it more difficult to write. Try to find a more narrow focus to write about what most interests you on the topic.
  • “Write about writing. Take 15 minutes and write a letter to yourself about why you don’t want to write this. This lets you vent your frustrations and anxieties. Then, take 15 minutes and write about what you could do to get unstuck. You can also try writing about what you’re going to write, making an initial assessment of the assignment. You won’t have the pressure of writing an actual draft, but you will be able to get something down on paper.” (The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)
What if You’re Wrong?
  • Try not to worry about writing the “right” thing, especially while working on the first draft. You can always make changes and cut sections as you continue and revise. At the beginning, you want to produce writing and see where it goes. If you are worried about particular sections, you can leave notes to yourself to come back and check on it later. You can always come back and make edits.
  • “Often, writers who are experiencing block or anxiety have a worse opinion of their own writing than anyone else! Make a list of the things you do well. You might ask a friend or colleague to help you generate such a list. Here are some possibilities to get you started:
What if You are Stressed and Can’t Seem to Write at All?
  • Don’t be afraid to take a break and step back! Looking at the assignment or your writing for too long can prolong the feeling of being stuck. It doesn’t have to be long, even ten minutes can help you clear your mind.
  • Try to start early enough that you can tackle the assignment in broken up parts rather than all at once. Since you might get stuck, it’s important to start early enough that you don’t have to force ideas.
  • Ask for help if you need it. Talking out your ideas or even just discussing the assignment can be a helpful way to figure out how to start. You can talk to your professor at office hours, discuss with a friend, or meet with a consultant here at the RWC.
Worried About Shifting Your Focus?
  • Sometimes you will have several papers due in a week and it can be difficult to manage switching your focus back and forth between multiple pieces of writing.
  • Don’t expect to be able to do it all at once. Be realistic in your expectations.
  • Prioritize based on deadlines and the time required per assignment. List out your assignments, their requirements, and their due dates so that you can prioritize by importance.
  • Break up your assignments into manageable sections. Try to write in pieces rather than all at once, especially when you have several papers due. It’s important to start early enough that you can do this.
How to Avoid Distractions?
  • Turning off your access to the internet, writing a plan or draft by hand, and turning on do not disturb are all ways you can help to avoid distractions and keep yourself focused on your writing.
  • Try using the Pomodoro Technique to help you maintain your focus. This technique has you set timers for 25 minutes of focused work with 5 minute breaks. This technique can help make your projects and time feel more manageable.
    • Using timers in which you have a specific amount of time you have to write without stopping can help you maintain your focus.

 

Works Consulted:

Purdue Owl: What to Do When You Are Stuck

Purdue Owl: Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block

Multiple pages from UNC Writing Center

Resource created by: Nadia