Academic Success

Overcoming writer’s block in academic writing

Fyruz outlines the ways she overcomes the struggle to get words to paper.

February 13, 2025 By Fyruz

YouAlberta is written by students for students.

Fyruz (she/her), a fourth-year media studies student, was born in Tripoli, Libya, and raised in Canada. She is creative and social, with a passion for all sorts of media. She enjoys everything from novels and films to crafting niche playlists for her and her friends. Fyruz values her community and focuses on dedicating more volunteer time to give back and connect with new people. Her long-term goal is a career in communications and she holds a deep desire to travel the world. Fyruz’s favourite spot on campus is the Senate Chamber in Old Arts because of its cozy armchairs and quiet atmosphere; it’s her go-to space for a peaceful study session or a relaxing reading break between classes.

I dread the state of having a paper due but not being able to string a sentence together when it’s time to write. Writer’s block feels debilitating and makes it easy to fall into a pattern of procrastination.

I often struggle to organize my ideas or expand on them. My degree requires a lot of writing – there’s always an essay or discussion post due. I find myself looking for ways to get inspired and be able to articulate my ideas.

Here are some tips that help me to get my thoughts flowing and turn ideas into insightful discussions.

Read journal articles.

The first essay after summer break is the hardest after months of only casual texts and quick emails. I find that reading acclaimed writing such as peer-reviewed articles re-familiarizes me with academic writing, especially focusing on structure and grammar. I start by revisiting academic writing as a first step to ease back in, whether it’s an assigned reading from class or searching an interesting topic on Google Scholar. Browsing Google Scholar can be a great brain-break that gets you thinking critically about even the most mundane topics.

Discuss your thesis/ideas with a friend or professor.

I like to talk through my thoughts with a friend as if I’m presenting my essay orally. It puts into perspective whether the ideas are coherent and relevant. This is also a great time to take advantage of office hours. A professor or TA will most likely have extensive background on the topic and, therefore, will be able to guide you and keep you on track. They’ll be the ones to read the essay, so it can be beneficial to understand your audience.

Express your creativity.

Academic writing is associated with analysis and structure, and we forget the creativity it requires. It might feel counterintuitive, but taking up a creative activity equally gets me turning ideas in my head.

I love to do colouring pages, and, in a way, they serve a double purpose! I think about what colours work best together for the bigger picture, yet also let my thoughts wander – about the colouring or my essay! Academic writing requires creativity when thinking of an original thesis or structuring a paper so that it constructs a compelling and comprehensible argument.

Take a scenic walk.

It’s beneficial to step away from the computer and refresh your mind. I love a nice stroll in fresh air (when the weather permits) or seeing how far I can walk using only pedways through campus buildings. I find that it’s important to take an active break and to give my eyes and my mind a break. Exercise gets blood flowing and even elevates the mood, setting you up for a successful writing session. A quick change of scenery and fresh air let me return to my desk with a fresh and prepared mind.

These are the ways I have navigated four years of paper writing! I hope that these tips can help you generate and organize your ideas and construct an A+ paper. Happy writing!