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How do I deal with writer's block?! - Longer term solutions
A.
free association
Write down a word, A. Then write down something associated with A to create word B. Continue
onwards from word B. You should try to be 'free' in what your brain thinks of as the association,
but you may want to try prompts.
Name something that (Word A)
Name a
has
is
does
thing / object
person
time / period
place
activity
Is there a quote / keyword
What IS (Word A) – is it a concept or theory?
a process? An action or event?
B.
associated with (word A)
associated with (Word A)
Part of
free writing
Give yourself 3-5 minutes maximum. Write as much as you can as fast as you can - don't worry
about spelling, grammar or punctuation: just get as many ideas down as you can.
C.
writing journal
Get into the habit of writing every day - write about how writing feels. Do you have good days/bad
days? Is there a pattern to this? When has writing worked better? Does it depend on the type of
writing you are doing?
Inspired by Stella Cottrell (2003) The Study Skills Handbook 2nd. Ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan