If you're struggling with writer's block as you wrestle with your dissertation or a grant application, would it help to know that many psychologists believe the condition doesn't exist?
Psychologist Steven Pritzker, PhD, co-editor of "The Encyclopedia of Creativity" (2011) and a former TV show writer, says that what's known as writer's block is an "artificial construct that basically justifies a discipline problem. A commitment to a regular work schedule will help you overcome barriers like perfectionism, procrastination and unrealistic expectations."
For many students, though, writing is not easy. In his 2007 book, "How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing," Paul Silvia, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, likens the tedious and occasionally agonizing process to the "grim business" of fixing a sewer or running a mortuary. The panic and frustration writers feel looking at a blank page with a deadline looming doesn't help, especially if you convince yourself you're creatively blocked.
"Naming something gives it object power," Silvia says. "People can overthink themselves into deep dark corners, and writer's block is a good example of that."
The struggle isn't, of course, just for graduate students. Many seasoned psychologists have a trove of unpublished research lurking in their computers waiting to be crafted into publishable articles. Silvia is part of a humorously titled "agraphia group" in his department that meets weekly in a coffee shop to share goals and spur each other on.
Here are some strategies that he and others use to write regularly and well.
Set a writing schedule
Many experts say scheduling time to write is the best way to be prolific; Silvia says it's the only way. Robert Boice, PhD, a psychologist who compared regular, spontaneous and emergency writing for his 1990 book "Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing" found that regular writers produced more work.
How much time is up to you, but Silvia says four hours per week should allow for a good amount of output. Pick a time when you're likely to be mentally acute and observe it with the same dedication you put toward attending class, he advises. "If someone tries to interrupt your writing time, come up with a beige lie, like a work meeting or visit to an allergist. Put it on your calendar so colleagues can see you're busy."
Your writing may improve with practice, too. According to Ronald Kellogg, PhD, a psychology professor at Saint Louis University and author of "The Psychology of Writing" (1994), regular writing practice may help reduce writing's demands on working memory, freeing experienced writers to create and revise more nuanced prose (Journal of Writing Research, 2008). Boice's study found that regular writers also had more new ideas.
Prepare
Many psychologists accept the theory that the creative process has four stages: preparation, incubation, illumination and verification. Note the first stage. If you can't figure out what to say, it may be your brain telling you to do more research, Silvia says. A strong outline can help organize your thinking on how to tackle a piece, though many people don't outline anymore, thinking "it's like cursive writing, something your teacher forced you to do in grade school," he says.
Incubate inspiration
What's referred to as writer's block is waiting for the third phase of creativity: inspiration, says Oshin Vartanian, PhD, editor of the 2013 book "Neuroscience of Creativity." If you're stuck on something, give it a rest for a day or two. A 2014 review in Frontiers of Human Neuroscience by Simone Ritter, PhD, from Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands, found that even when we consciously take a break from a project, the brain is still tinkering with it. Sleeping may also help consolidate ideas and associations we've gathered during the day. "The problem is still percolating unconsciously in your mind. Incubation really helps creative insights," Vartanian says.
Just get it down
Put something, anything down to get ideas flowing, even if it's a flow chart with sticky notes. Pritzker often writes in freehand. James C. Kaufman, PhD, co-author of "The Psychology of Creative Writing" (2009) and a professor of educational psychology at the Neag School of Education at the University of Connecticut, starts with a title page or a very basic outline.
"It's easier to edit than create," he says. "To generate from scratch seems harder than building on what's out there."
In fact, Kaufman says, based on psychologist Joy Paul Guilford's theory of creative problem solving, writing and editing are likely separate mind processes. Writing involves divergent thinking — generating ideas — and editing is convergent thinking, or evaluating ideas. Therefore, your work will go more smoothly if you write for one session and edit in another, rather than stopping after each sentence. Learning to edit will also make you more efficient. For tips on polishing prose, many writing professionals recommend William Zinsser's book "On Writing Well," now in its 30th anniversary edition.
Find your sweet spot
If you work best standing up, or in a coffee shop or park, go for it. "You need to find the environment and circumstance where you write best, and when you find that, embrace it," says Pritzker, who is also a professor of psychology at Saybrook University. "Pretty soon it will be a self-fulfilling prophecy."
Taking a walk first may boost your creativity, according to a series of experiments by Marily Oppezzo, PhD, of Santa Clara University and Daniel Schwartz, PhD, of Stanford University in the Journal of Experimental Psychology (PDF, 144KB) (2014). The researchers found that people had higher scores on tests of divergent thinking while walking, an effect that lasted even after they sat down.
Accept that criticism happens
The tough editing and rejections you'll inevitably receive throughout your career can lead to what Kaufman cites as "creative mortification" and stifling self-doubt. Prevent that fear of failure by sharing your drafts with trusted peers or an advisor you communicate with easily, Kaufman suggests. "If you never ask for or get feedback, you lose connection with reality and end up holding [your writing] up for a major potential doom-and-gloom judgment."
Also, remember, no piece of writing is perfect, so don't let that get in the way of your writing. Research by Simon Sherry, PhD, of Dalhousie University in Canada, and colleagues, found that psychology professors whose answers indicated they were more perfectionistic published less often and in journals of lesser impact (Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science, 2010).
To help overcome the paralyzing sense of finality that comes with letting a draft go, Silvia says, remember that you'll get another crack at it after your advisor and reviewers see it.
Reward yourself
Set goals for each writing session, like writing a certain number of words or revising a draft, and reward yourself for completing them, perhaps with fancy coffee or a few minutes on Twitter. Some writers set word count goals. Silvia tracks his progress on a spreadsheet. As a student, Kaufman would not allow himself to brush his teeth, shower or leave his room before finishing a writing task. These days, he simply stays in his office until he achieves a writing goal he's set for the day, whether it is completing the draft of a paper or answering all of his email.
Make it personal
Finding an assignment tedious? Try injecting a personal interest in the piece, Kaufman suggests. "I tend to insert references to things I like, like baseball, theater or pop culture," he says. If you really can't find anything intrinsically interesting in it, focus on the larger picture, such as why you're doing this work — perhaps for a degree, for funding or to be published.