Writing anxiety is a sense of unease about the act of putting words on the page that exists on a continuum of severity. Some writing is a temporary sense of discomfort that slows the writing process while other writing anxiety can result in a paralysis of thinking and/or writing (this is also know as writer's block).
Writing anxiety is common, so if the though of writing fills you with dread, you are not alone! There are many options to address it.
Here are some suggestions for you to consider:
You may be familiar with the traditional process that consists of these steps:
If this works for you, great! If the traditional process does not work for you, adapt it or create your own process. Whatever writing process you use must be practical and functional.
For example, if you brainstorm internally, meaning that you generate ideas as you complete other tasks, build that into your process. Additionally, if you brainstorm while online, meaning that you read a lot of research and develop your ideas by considering already-existing ideas, build that into your process. By tailoring your process to your way of thinking, you can avoid procrastination and track your progress.
2. Ground yourself in reality.
Often, writers imagine a dream scenario in which they create their work, and their realties differ from those ideas. For example, many writers imagine reviewing their assignment a week in advance, brainstorming by building an outline and researching for uninterrupted hours. However, this is impractical. You will likely have five or six days between reading the assignment and creating the draft you will submit. Knowing this, schedule your time to achieve your purpose.
If you are assigned a five-page essay, and your process is generally to sit down the morning of the deadline and complete one draft that you submit, ask if that works for you. If it does, maintain it. If it does not, consider the changes that you want to make and implement them.
3. Eliminate "should" from your thinking.
In conjunction with the previous points, focus on what you do as a writer by determining what is effective for you and what is not. If your goal is to be a proficient writer with transferable skills (skills that you can use in multiple contexts), build a process that reflects that goal.
Proficiency is not built through a four-hour writing process. Rather, it is built through experience, so if you want to be a capable writer, you must commit time and practice to building your skills. Consider this article from LinkedIn about the importance of writing as a skill.
4. Focus on your purpose.
In each assignment, your purpose is to demonstrate your understanding of the course concepts and materials. Focus on those goals. Do not overwhelm yourself with catastrophic thinking. Instead, focus on showcasing your best skills and abilities on that particular writing task.
5. Develop an objective view of your writing.
Writing is a toolbox of communication skills. While you may be able to construct elegant sentences, you may fail at communicating broader points. By reflecting on the feedback that you receive from instructors and writing consultants, you can develop a sense of who you are as a writer. Focus on patterns of error in the feedback that you receive. For example, if more than one instructor has highlighted weak thesis statements in your essays, focus on developing your thesis statements.
These helpful tips were provided by Katherine Olson - Program Director, General Education and Interdisciplinary Professional Studies.