Writer's block

Group, May/Jun 1999

If you're at a loss for words when you're writing a letter, a youth talk, or even a submission to group Magazine, try these strategies from the Writers' Workshop home page at www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/workshop,

1. Making notes Cut loose from paragraphs and sentences-jot down ideas and phrases as they occur to you. Use arrows, boxes, outlines, even pictures.

2. Freewriting-Sit down for 10 minutes and write down everything that comes to mind. If you can't think of anything to say, write "blah, blah, blah," until you do.

3. Piecework-Sometimes starting at the beginning causes Perfect Draft Syndrome, so choose a section from the middle and begin there.

4. What I really mean is. . .-When you're stuck looking for the perfect phrase, just say it the way you think it, then refine the phrasing.

5. Satisficing-You "satisfice" when you take the first reasonable solution instead of searching endlessly for just the right word or sentence. You can always go back later and fix it.