Curing Writer's Block
OK, you've just received an assignment from your teacher. Where do you start? That is one of the biggest problems writers have -- how do I begin? Let's look at some solutions.
Some people say, "just put your pen to the paper and start writing." That's not a bad idea. Sometimes ideas just flow unorganized from your brain. Once they're on paper, you can rearrange them, delete them, whatever. But I like to give myself a starting point -- an outline. I know people are afraid of that word because it conjures up images of Roman numerals, capital letters, and utter despair. I'm talking about a three-point outline-- that's all.
No matter what the topic, try to scribble a quick outline. Any style of writing has a beginning, middle, and end (sometimes called introduction, body, and conclusion). That's also a basic outline.
The introduction introduces your topic -- tells us what you're talking about.
The body lets us see what you're talking about.
The conclusion lets us know why you talked about the topic.
These parts can be any length, depending on the scale of your topic.
OK, lets look at some examples.
Topic: What's your favorite color? Answer in 300 words.
Outline
Favorite color -- blue OK, that's one word, only 299 to go.
Expand on your answer. Why is blue your favorite color? Well, the summer of '02 that I spent in Ocean City, I met this girl named Sandy. Guess what? Sandy had blue eyes. I had a wonderful summer with Sandy.
How does this help? Look at my outline...
1. I always thought green was my favorite color until Ocean City '02.
2. Tell the story about Sandy's blue eyes -- and maybe that blue necklace she gave me.
3. My world is now a blue one (maybe because Sandy lives in Jersey).
I used a formula to come up with the outline.
1. How things were.
2. What changed them.
3. How things are now because of #2.
Other possible formulas...
"Bad to good"
1. Didn't like blue
2. Something happened to change my mind
3. Now I love blue. (things have changed).
You can reverse that too...
"Good to bad"
1. I loved blue
2. Something happened to change my mind
3. I now love green (though I hate blue) (have to adapt for topic of favorite color)
Notice the formulas have a formula...
1. Talk about something generally
2. Get specific with details
3. Make your point
Can this work for other more involved writing topics? Let's look...
Topic: Discuss a person or event that has made a major change in your character.
This common college application question may be approached in the same way.
Since the person or event made a change in you (hopefully for the better), you can answer the question by documenting the change. The change sets up your essay. Let's say you were shy until you took an acting class. Here's the outline...
1. Tell of your shyness (as you were before)
2. Tell the story of the acting class -- what exactly changed you?
3. Tell how you are now because of the class.
Can this work with any type of writing topic?
Certainly. Just open your mind to the possibilities. Take a look at the following scholarly essay question.
Topic: The conch shell is of major symbolic importance in The Lord of the Flies.
Trace the development of this symbol and examine it against the background
of society.
A bit stuffy, but workable...
You're asked to "trace the development" of the conch. Isn't that a change?
1. How was the conch at the beginning of the novel?
2. What changes did it go through?
3. How do those changes reflect society?
See, the formula even works for serious literary essay questions. Remember, this technique is just a starting point -- a quick outline. For further help on specific types of writing go to Narrative Writing, Expository (critical) Writing, Persuasive Writing, Personal Writing, Research Writing.
Expanding the outline
I often write a paper directly from my outline by asking a series of questions (mostly "so what?").
Let's use the college application essay above as an example.
1. Tell of your shyness (as you were before)
2. Tell the story of the acting class -- what exactly changed you?
3. Tell how you are now because of the class.
1. I was shy. "So what?" How did it affect your life? Were there things you could or couldn't do because of the shyness?
Notice how the starting question "so what" leads to follow up questions that will provide detail for your paper. Let's continue...
2. Acting class changed me. "So what?" How did it change you? What happened exactly? Can it happen to anyone who takes the class?
This leads to follow-up details that make a paper memorable.
3. I'm different now. "So what?" How have you changed? Will the changes last? Would you recommend the class to others?
Use "so what" as a springboard to launch you into better writing.