Overcoming Writer's Block: Strategies for Productive Thesis Writing

Many of us have experienced the frustrating and demotivating feeling of writer's block when attempting to work on a thesis or dissertation. Despite having set aside time to focus on the task, the cursor blinks on the empty screen, and the digital void seems to mock our intellect. This can make us feel like imposters in the academic world, overwhelmed and not good enough.

Interestingly, this is a common challenge faced by our clients as well. They often seek our assistance to overcome writer's block and find effective methods to stay motivated and focused while working on their academic papers. Our team has various strategies and techniques to help clients overcome this obstacle and succeed with their writing. 

But first we need to understand what it is and why we feel like this. 

Understanding the Enemy: Why Does Writer's Block Lurk?

Writers block in the context of writing a thesis is an inhibition or something that prevents you to write a section of your thesis or your dissertation. 

Before we discuss the various strategies you could use to overcome writer's block, let us understand the enemy. Writer's block often stems from:

• Overwhelm: Undertaking a thesis can take much work. The project's complexity can leave one feeling paralysed, unsure of where to begin. The challenge is compounded by the fact that the project requires one to work on multiple phases of research simultaneously while managing deadlines, supervisors, and institutional admin. It is not uncommon for students to find themselves staring at a 25-page literature review, struggling to decide how to structure or synthesize the findings. The sheer magnitude of the work involved can be daunting, and it is easy to feel lost, confused, or frustrated. 
• Perfectionism is a common trait among writers and postgraduate students, but it can be a double-edged sword. While the desire to produce flawless prose and the perfect thesis/ dissertation can drive one to improve their academic writing skills, it can also lead to a crippling fear of failure and an inability to move forward. This fear can manifest as procrastination, where the writer becomes fixated on small details and spends a disproportionate amount of time perfecting them rather than making progress on the overall piece. For instance, a writer may spend hours or even days struggling with a sentence in the introduction, constantly rewriting and tweaking it to achieve perfection. This can result in losing focus and momentum, as well as frustration and self-doubt. In the end, the writer may become so consumed with achieving perfection that they never finish the piece, or they may finish it but feel dissatisfied with the final result. When writing your thesis this could also stop you from sending work to your supervisor and spending months on a small part of your work without any feedback or critique. 
• Need for structure. Many students need help with some common roadblocks when writing a thesis. One of the most significant hurdles is the need for more structure. A blank page can be daunting, especially if you need a straightforward, manageable plan. For example, if you still need to develop a detailed outline for your thesis chapters, you may need help figuring out where to start writing. This can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination, exacerbating the problem.
• Motivation slump. Another common challenge is a motivational slump where you may feel excited and enthusiastic about the topic when you start researching and writing your thesis. However, that initial research fire can fade as time goes on, leaving you feeling unmotivated and uninspired. For example, you may be halfway through your thesis, and suddenly, the topic seems less exciting, making it difficult to focus. This can be frustrating and make it hard to stay on track with your writing goals.

Practical Strategies to Get Writing

Now that we know why we may experience writer's block, we can focus on strategies to help you overcome it. Here are some practical strategies to help you get unstuck and to get writing. 

Time Management Techniques

There are many time management techniques out there that can help you plan and manage your academic writing sessions better. We have found the following activities most useful when completing a postgraduate degree.

• The Pomodoro Technique: This time management method was developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It uses a timer to break work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks. This maintains focus and prevents burnout. This technique is particularly useful when you have some ideas around your topic and need to start putting ideas to paper. 
  •  Bonus Activity Idea: Pair the Pomodoro Technique with the "Eat the Frog" strategy. For instance, if you are struggling with complex data analysis, consider it your "frog" and tackle it during the first Pomodoro session of your day. 
  • Bonus Activity Idea: You can use this technique by reading three to five articles related to your thesis topic and then set time to discuss the main takeaways from the articles and answering specific questions relating to the articles and how they relate to your study.
  • Remember that you can use this technique to help you focus on any section of your thesis and schedule it to address different sections simultaneously. 
• Schedule Your Muse: Block dedicated writing time in your calendar, treating it like any other necessary appointment. What is however really important here is to not schedule 3 hours in your calendar without a plan of action or a goal in mind. Rather schedule shorter sessions with specific goals and not to create additional experiences of feeling overwhelmed. 
  • Bonus Activity: Create a specific writing location in your home or office. This dedicated space signals your brain that it is time to focus on writing.
  • Batch Similar Tasks: Group similar tasks (e.g., referencing, editing) to avoid 'context switching,' which refers to changing from one task to another and then back again, which can disrupt your flow.
  • Bonus Activity Idea: Utilize reference management software to streamline the referencing process. This frees up time and mental energy for the actual writing.

Develop a Writing Habit

• Find Your Flow State: 
  • This is a mental state where a person is fully immersed in a feeling of energized focus, full involvement, and enjoyment in the activity. Experiment with writing at different times of the day to find when you are most likely to enter this state.
    • Bonus Activity Idea: Track your weekly energy levels and schedule your writing sessions during peak focus times.
    • What is important here is to find something that works for you. This will take some trial and error and will be something that will be unique to you and your research journey. 
• Create a Pre-Writing Ritual: 
  • This is a set of actions or behaviours you perform before writing. It signals your brain that it is time to focus and can help you get into the right mindset for writing. 
    • Light a scented candle or use essential oils for your pre-writing ritual. Certain scents can be associated with focus and productivity.
    • This is again something that will be unique to you. So if you want to make a cup of coffee or a cup of tea, set up your desk, put on a playlist or work in complete silence- this will be up to you. The important thing here is that you set up a ritual that will help you get into the mental space to be productive. 
• Embrace Imperfection: 
  • Aim for "progress, not perfection." First drafts are about capturing ideas rather than crafting award-winning prose. 
  • Remember you will get the opportunity to revise your work as you make progress.  
    • Bonus Activity Idea:  Write the first drafts with a pen and paper. This can help overcome the pressure of a perfect digital document. But please do not write your entire thesis by hand. It will benefit you more if you plan basic ideas on paper and then write according to that structure. 
• Set Realistic Goals
  • When working on a thesis, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work that needs to be done. However, breaking down the project into smaller, achievable goals can help you stay motivated and make progress more quickly.
    •  One way to do this is to set daily or weekly goals, focusing on completing smaller tasks that provide a sense of accomplishment. This can help you stay motivated and energized, and keep you moving forward even when the going gets tough.
    • You can also develop a broad table of contents and aim to address the main and sub-sections whenever you schedule some writing time. 
    • Another way to stay on track with your writing goals is to focus on actionable steps rather than larger, more abstract goals. For example, instead of telling yourself to "write chapter 3," you might set a goal to "write 500 words on X sub-topic." This can make the task feel more manageable and give you a clear sense of what you need to do next.
      • To help you break down your writing goals even further, you might consider using a to-do list app or other productivity tool. This can help you keep track of your progress and ensure that you're making steady progress towards your larger goals. A great tool you could use here is the to-do list generator of Goblin tools. Check it out here.
  • Of course, it's also important to celebrate your progress along the way. 
    • Completing each goal is a victory, so be sure to reward yourself for your hard work and stay motivated. 
    • This might mean taking a coffee break, enjoying a favourite snack, or indulging in some other form of self-care.
    • Remember to share your successes with your supervisor, peers, friends and family. They are rooting for your success. 
• Writing Prompts and Templates
  • Another way to get your creative juices flowing is to utilize writing prompts and templates. 
  • Writing prompts can help you overcome writer's block and spark new ideas, while templates can provide a helpful structure for your writing. 
  • You might also consider freewriting, which involves setting a timer for 5-10 minutes and writing continuously without stopping or editing. This can help you overcome perfectionism and allow your ideas to flow more freely.
  • You could also use your institutional templates to help you tackle sections of the work. 
  • We have a couple of questions that you could ask as you write your literature review, collect your data and analyse your data as well. Use these questions to help you focus on what your reader needs to know to understand your research argument. You can access our templates and prompts here. 

By using these strategies and tools, you can make the process of writing a thesis feel more manageable and less daunting. So don't be afraid to break down that mountain into smaller, more manageable hills – you might be surprised at how quickly you can reach the summit!

Building Your Support System

Writer's block can be isolating, but remember, you are not alone. One of the most important things you can do early in your research journey, is to build a support system. Not only will this support system help you with other aspects of your research process, it will also help you to overcome your writer's block. 

Here are some of the things you could do to help you: 

• Join a Writing Group: Find a group of fellow researchers to share struggles, offer support, and hold each other accountable. If you are struggling to find a group- create one! Find colleagues or peers who are also enrolled for further study and schedule study or writing sessions to help each other stay motivated. 
• Seek Guidance from Your Supervisor: Discuss your writing challenges with your supervisor. They can offer valuable feedback and help you stay on track.
• Use your institutional resources: You college or university should have writing assistance and additional support via your librarian. Ask them for help when you need extra training.
• Academic writing tutoring: If you really feel stuck and need expert guidance, you can book a session with a writing coach or tutor. They are trained to help you identify the areas where you need to improve and will provide you with the tools you need to get unstuck. 
• Reward Yourself: Celebrate your writing victories, big or small. Treat yourself to a coffee break, a walk in the park, or a fun activity outside of academia.

Overcoming writer's block is a journey, not a one-time event. Some days will be more challenging than others. However, by implementing these strategies and cultivating a consistent writing routine, you can transform the blank page from a foe into a canvas for your research brilliance. Remember, persistence is critical. So, stay focused, write consistently, and conquer that thesis!

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