There is no such thing as writer's block - what is the real issue?

Erin Bedford, a PhD student in Nanotechnology Engineering, considers the various reasons we don't write when we know we should or need too in her post Why Aren’t We Writing?  

She quotes one of my favorite writing guides, How to Write A Lot by Paul Silvia, to express the point that there is no such thing as writer's block, rather it is many other issues such as a lack of confidence, poor organization, confusion on how to work through data, among other things.  She provides several suggestions of how to work through these stoppages in writing such as:

• Get rid of the blank page
• Schedule time
• Set small goals
• Reward yourself
• Change your location
• Leave enough time for revision
• Use your resources to develop your skills

I would encourage you to read her full posting as it gives a lot more detail, and this is great advice! 

Image (Mary Pickford writing at a desk) is available from the United States Library of Congress's Prints and Photographs division under the digital ID ppmsca.18840.

To Get Writing Done - It Must Be a Priority

Joli Jensen at Vitae has a good post about the importance of really making writing a priority.  It is entitled "Face It: Your Decks Will Never Be Cleared." As academics, there will always be more to do -  more grading, more preparing, more meetings, and the list goes on.  To be a productive writer, writing time needs to be scheduled in, just like any other meeting or obligation, otherwise it will slide to the end of the list of To Do. 

Joli Jensen

Joli Jensen

Joli Jensen

Joli Jensen

Joli Jensen