Writers Block !!!

[Biscuit]

Hi everyone

I am studying for OU but everytime I need to do an essay I get writers block - i sit for hours with loads of thoughts circulating but nothing lands on the paper. I have tried spider diagrams but these seem to confuse me more. Has anyone got any advice. I do tend to worry about what the tutor will think of my ideas.

Regards

Paula

[MBH]

I can touch type, so I'm able to put things 'down' as quick as I think of them ---- as opposed to my horrible handwriting which is slow and unreadable (guess how well I did in 'English' 30-years ago...)

With word processing I literally let any and all thoughts flow out onto the screen, then use cut and paste (and Delete) to make it look the way I want it to look. I find it easier shuffling jigsaw pieces than painting a perfect picture onto a blank canvass (what an analogy from someone who can't draw a straight line with a ruler)

Practice with your word processor so it becomes second nature and you don't need to think about the mechanics of the job and REMEMBER to read the finished essay (1) On the screen as a whole piece, (2) On the paper once it's printed, and (3) again some days later. It's so easy to read what we want to say rather than what is actually there

[Laura]

When I was doing unni essays, I used to write any old rubbish for the intro, just so that I'd got started. The rest of it was easier then. And at the end, I'd go back and sort out the diabollical intro.

[caroli118]

I always found bullet points to be better than spider diagrams. They're tidier and easier to follow.

Breaking the body of the essay down in to chunks and doing it peice by piece also helped rather than attempting to tackle the entire thing head on.

[Biscuit]

Hi

Thanks for all the good advice. I too can touch type so I have put all my thoughts on paper. When taking my notes for the course I do so in word with lots of bullet points as I find it easier - I will try this when I revise too as spider diagrams are a bit confusing.

I have now finished the main body and just need to rewrite my introduction and conclusion in light of what I have written about.

Fingers Crossed - thanks for all your good advice. and I will read it at the end

Regards

Paula

[katsmom]

As dumb as this is going to sound, when you reread it to make sure it works, start at the end and work your way to the beginning. You would be surprised how many leaps of logic you can find that make perfect sense to you when read the right way round. I can't tell you how many papers I've changed over the years by doing that because I was able to spot something that just didn't mesh when read from the intro.

Good luck with it.

[tricia]

I did an OU degree a 15 years ago - Don't be put off about what the tutor thinks - they are there to help you and they will. Split your essay yp into sections e.g introduuctin , para 1,para2... Conclusion. Then put the key words into each section. Then your essay will follow. Good Luck - What is your Subject?

Tricia

[Biscuit]

Hi Tricia

I am studying business studies but the course we are taking is a new one and everyone is complaining about the amount of reading. It seems to be a heavty tomb every four weeks plus a TMA (originally this type of course was presented over a year but they had feedback that people would like a break so have reduced to nine months. Just been away to Devon for the weekend with friends and even took the books with me! LOL. Thanks for your help. I am nearing completion (just a final read through) top to bottom and bottom to top as suggested. This is my first level 2 course, and so far a real step up from level 1.

Regards

Paula