All academics have been here before in their writing process: staring at a blank page or screen and wondering how they will get from point A to point B before ripping their hair out. Endurance has been the name of the game for academics and students alike in higher education. In moments of frustration and headache, it’s best to step away from the pen/cursor and return later. But, when your work is due in two weeks, how do you ensure you return later? Check out these tips for improving your writing endurance and productivity:

Write Regularly
Though writing can be mentally demanding, transitioning into a writing headspace can sometimes be more difficult than the writing itself. Once you are finally ready to get writing, you are met with a spacious document and feel stuck all over again. Try writing regularly - daily, bi-weekly, or monthly, depending on your preference. You can write about anything as long as you craft ideas and communicate them in writing. 

[Image Description: Hello Kitty writing in a notebook at a table.]

Let’s say you are writing up an important research grant and are stuck on how to start a personal statement in the context of your proposed research. You can write daily reflections on your career development or bi-weekly mini-essays on the topic you are proposing research on. The intention is to regularly put yourself in the writing mental space so that the rocky transition into writing is less frequent and effortful. 

Write Roughly and Concisely
If you are a pro at entering the professional writing headspace but feel overwhelmed once you are there, permitting yourself to write “poorly” can help keep your writing flow alive. By “poorly,” I mean to write roughly but concisely and accurately. Writing without the pressure of polish will give you the space to flesh out ideas and focus on the essential elements of your communications.  

[Image Description: Hands writing in a journal and tossing balled-up journal pages into a waste bin.]

If you are struggling to draft a discussion section interpreting your research results, start by outlining the required key elements of your discussion section. From there, write a statement or two summarizing each component of your discussion section. For example, to summarize your findings, write up to two sentences stating each finding in simplest terms. After that, you can begin building each finding into an interpretation in your next writing session.  

Write Relaxed or Inspired
An unexpected piece of advice I’ve received from a previous professor is that sometimes it is beneficial to write while tipsy. I’m not endorsing this technique here, but I do think that it speaks to the importance of writing while relaxed. When deliberating on the difficulty of our writing task or the quality and future reception of our writing, we forget our original goals and inspirations. If you are at the stage of pulling your hair out, this tip is for you.

[Image Description: A relaxed chihuahua laying on a neck massager with a newspaper for a blanket.]

Step away from the cursor/pen and enter an environment where you feel at ease and find clarity. If your mental space is the same anywhere you go, focus on what helps you feel at ease. From there, seek inspiration from other resources. If you struggle to write an analysis and results section, look for casual, creative writing related to your work. Also, you can read your previous writings that you are proud of for inspiration. Or, you can read the works of writers you respect highly. Then, return to your document and see where your ideas take you.