- Set a block of time aside to write every day. Incorporate writing time into your schedule and make it a habit.
- Find a comfortable place to write that will allow you to be most productive.
- Protect your writing time by resisting the urge to engage in various forms of distracting activities (for example, checking your email, surfing the web, organizing your workspace and so fourth).
- Set appropriate goals for yourself. It is much better to set a small goal and reach it than to set the bar too high and fail.
- Periodically, give yourself breaks to recuperate while writing. It is also important to keep a balance between writing and other life obligations.
- Start with a part of the paper that interests you the most. This may stimulate your writing and make it easier to continue to the other parts.
- While you are writing, try to focus less on editing your paper and more on finishing the assignment.
- Write for yourself and resist the urge to think about what others may think about your writing.
- Explore what may be holding you back from writing. It might be something deeper like negative self-talk or perfectionism.
- If necessary reach out to a colleague, friend, or writing coach for help.
Additional resources:
- General Mental Health
- Boice, Robert. Professors as Writers. New Forums, 1990.
- Boice, Robert. The New Faculty Member. Jossey-Bassm 1990.
- Lammott, Ann. Bird by Bird. Pantheon, 1994.
- Nelson, Victoria. On Writer’s Block. Houghton-Mifflin, 1993.
- Silvia, P. (2007). How to Write A lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing.
- Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
The Staff & Faculty Counseling Center can help you learn how to incorporate these elements in your life. For a free and confidential consultation with one of our counselors, please call and schedule an appointment at 310-351-6259.
Campus Human Resources, Staff and Faculty Counseling Center
Phone: (310) 794-0245 | Fax: (310) 794-0251
