Remember that, at this stage, it doesn’t matter what others may think about your writing. Freewriting is the practice of letting your mind wander, allowing you to explore topics and ideas associated with it. Write with no outcome in mind other than to let yourself consider possibilities. The gasps are audible, but by composing without the distractions of a digital screen or the ease of electronic editing tools, writers can keep the ideas flowing and get them down before falling into the trap of slashing their work too soon. When I teach writing in a computer lab, I always instruct my students to turn off the computer altogether and compose their first drafts by hand. Turn off your computer screen.įirst drafts are all about getting the big ideas down the perfectionist’s tendency to line-edit prematurely and excessively will kill the flow of creative thinking required in the early stages of a project. Then, if you are so inclined, wad the paper up and throw it in the trash. Or maybe you’re worried that your vocabulary, or grammar, or, isn’t up to par. Perhaps you are afraid of not measuring up because of an overly critical parent or sibling, for example. If you find yourself stuck on your writing project, take a few minutes to jot down, longhand, anything that may be getting in your way. A mind dump is simply a strategy to get out everything that’s on our minds because these thoughts may be causing anxiety and eventual creative block. Try a “mind dump.”Īnecdotally, writers, artists, and even business leaders observe that holding on to worries and stressors can inhibit the ability to think creatively. If you suffer from perfectionism, try these eight tips to get over it fast - and get on with your assignment. Once our self-censor kicks in, nothing we write is going to be good enough - or so our inner critic tells us. Many beginning (and experienced, for that matter!) writers suffer from perfectionism, or “analysis paralysis,” that can lead to writer’s block. Have you ever sat down to start a writing assignment and become so paralyzed with worry or anxiety that you can’t even get going?
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