Staff Writer- Bao Vu
Photo Credits: August Marcusen
To be honest, the only reason you’re reading these words is because I don’t know what to write for this week’s issue.
And just so you know, running out of ideas is completely normal. Sometimes the more you write, the more ideas you have. But in many instances, the more you want to write, the less you know what to put down.
There are times when I sit in front of the screen for hours. The cursor still blinks black and white, a few lines gradually appear, only to be swallowed whole by a long press of the delete key. A total brain freeze. I think this happens because we often put pressure on ourselves to come up with some amazing things before we even start writing. That very pressure to be “perfect” is the biggest reason holding us back. Try setting that rule aside and discover what you can actually write when you feel like you have nothing to say!
- Write about your own block
Just like I’m doing right now 🙂 Well, not quite. What I mean here is grab a piece of paper, write meaningless sentences, write sentences that express your current mood and feelings. “I don’t know what to write.” “Empty.” “How do I come up with something?” “I want matcha.” Then gradually, switch to writing down any idea that suddenly flashes in your head, no matter how silly that idea is. You have to write things down to know what to write. You have to arrange the thoughts in your head before you can express them.
- Ask yourself questions
When writing about this topic, I asked my editor, Soph White, how they could help writers when writers don’t know what to write. Soph said that they’ll usually prompt writers with questions. That’s exactly what you need. Prompt yourself some questions. From what you like recently, what you read recently, or choose a random thing, then use questions to connect that random thing with your assignment.
For example, I need to write about impulse buying habits. I don’t know what to do or where to start, but I can choose cat as my random thing. Then I immediately think about how I once spent a ton of money buying a really fancy cat tree for my cat, but at the end it only liked crawling into a discarded cardboard box. That absurdity creates more questions like: How many times do we spend money on flashy things just to satisfy an instant emotion, rather than for their actual value? How can I spend money more wisely? From a very familiar (and cute) object like a cat, I now have a new perspective and even an interesting hook for the piece!
- Change the scenery
Stand up and take a walk. Find a different spot to sit. Move from the dorm to the Courtyard, from the Courtyard to the library, from the library to Beck, from the Beck to the Arb. Who knows where to go. But just go! When the brain has become too familiar with a certain place, we easily feel safe and stop noticing the interesting things around us. Creating in a different environment can often give us new perspectives and stimulate the brain with unfamiliar information. Moreover, when I’m writing these words, the weather is just beautiful outside. Not raining, not too cold, or too hot. This makes me feel more comfortable creating new things.
- Consume content (actively and critically)
If you can’t produce ideas, you can also go on an easier way by consuming ideas from other sources. But make sure to engage with content that forces your brain to analyze and form thoughts actively and critically, like reading news, watching documentaries, listening to podcasts, reading novels and exercising your imagination, etc. Consuming these types of content will give you the chance to see new problems, from which you can think of new ideas and methods to solve difficulties.
I like calling this method “find others’ ideas to find my ideas”.
- Seek help
Gustavus has a Writing Center that can help you at any stage of your writing process. According to their email, “whether you are tackling a class paper, working on a personal statement, or just trying to get your ideas started, we are here to help. We can support you at any stage: initial brainstorming, early drafts, and final edits.” Just book an appointment online, then go meet them. They are super friendly and helpful.
Another option is to ask your professor. Professors are usually very open to offering guidance, suggesting ideas, or sharing resources and articles that helps you.
If you don’t want to ask a professor, ask friends. Group discussion can bring you a whole new perspective. When you struggle alone, your brain easily falls into a rut of thinking. But just find friends and ask “Hey what do you think about this?” You’ll be surprised by how everyone has a completely different take. Sometimes, a random joke or a small argument among them is all you need.
And just like that, this page is full, I could give this draft to my editor on time, and my delete key finally gets a well-deserved break.
I hope this article helps. And good luck on your assignments!