Category Archives: writing to get unstuck

tackling writer’s block

Posted on March 28, 2022 by pat thomson

It’s pretty common for writers to get stuck with their writing. Most people of course find a solution of some kind. Eventually. Sometimes the stuckness goes away, apparently by itself. But sometimes the writer finds something else to work on. … Continue reading →

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a first draft in five minutes a day?

Posted on February 8, 2021 by pat thomson

This is a brief post. It’s a brief post about a brief strategy which helps you to get started on writing that feels a bit – well – a bit boring. It’s the five minutes a day strategy. Boring? Yes … Continue reading →

Posted in being stuck, boring writing, crappy first draft, pomodoro, speed writing, stuck points, tiny targets, writing to get unstuck | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

writing and stuck? try a “ventilation file”

Posted on May 7, 2018 by pat thomson

I am sure that most of us have experienced that feeling of guilt and dread that comes from not getting down to a writing task. We find lots of other things to do instead. More important things. Like looming deadlines. … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, being stuck, David Sternberg, ventilation file, writing to get unstuck | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

writing to get unstuck – #phdknowhow

Posted on July 8, 2015 by pat thomson

Sometimes, in the middle of the PhD, you feel stuck. You feel as if you’re losing focus. Perhaps your research question is slipping away. Perhaps your research question no longer feels as if it quite fits. You may be analyzing … Continue reading →

Posted in PhD, writing to get unstuck | Tagged , | 7 Comments