Deadline for writing a paper - but just can’t seem to put pen to paper

[Chage]

I’m hoping someone has some experience with this or advice that might help me.

I’ve got a paper that’s really up against it, deadline wise, and for some reason I just cannot make myself sit down and focus long enough to even get the intro/lit review section written up, let alone the findings!

I don’t know if it’s a case of perfectionism, or maybe it’s just being overwhelmed by everything I think I need to include, or overloaded by all the other jobs I have to get done, or the guilt about wasting time on other things holding me back, whatever it is, I can’t seem to break through this wall.

Does anyone understand what I’m talking about? Is this common?

I don't know about common but I find starting things really hard. There is nothing quite as intimidating as a blank piece of paper. I know it's not the same thing but I draw and write comics. Sitting there staring at the paper waiting for an idea to come never works. First thing I do is draw a grid on the page just crudely break it into six or eight panels and then suddenly its not a blank piece of paper any more. I start to doodle a character in the top left panel and before I know where I am I'm off and running.

Just start.

Anywhere.

Just splurge stuff out onto the page. Get stuff down. Cut, paste, rearrange, sort, add, and organise later but until you get SOMETHING down you can't start to do anything.

Go for it!

Yes, every time. I will procrastinate until the last possible minute. My advice, for what it's worth, is to start anywhere. Even if you do a brief outline of the structure and then write notes that you can expand later it will get you into the flow again. The important thing is to open a document and make a start. Good luck!

Oh yes!
Have a tea. Do nothing while you are drinking the tea (15 mins max). Then start.

1. Bullet point list of sections. Just titles.
2. Expand each section by adding subsidiary topics. If any good ideas for content occur to you while you are doing this, add them.
3. Start writing, section by section. Don’t do it in order, choose the easiest and begin there.
4. If you get stuck, move to another section or sub-heading and do that.

The idea is to build focus, momentum and confidence by just keeping going.

1. You are allowed to have a 10 minute max break every 45 minutes, provided you haven’t wasted the time doing nothing.

Good luck!

I’m like this too, I can have weeks to get things done but end up leaving it until the last minute, then rushing things or asking for an extension. I’ve managed to pass most of my modules this way but I’m doing a harder level now. Just start writing something to get things going, you can always build on it, change it or start all over again. Try to write a set number of words or pages or a day. Then reward yourself with something nice! Anything so you can submit something to show that you’ve attempted it rather than a blank page!

poster HighNetGirth

Thanks for those tips, I’ll give them a try!

I didn’t expect any messages so late at night so went to bed! Thank you so much for these tips. I am going to get started today. I’ll start with a bullet point list of paragraphs and build it form there. Maybe put who/what I need to cite under each heading, and then take it from there.

My struggles do make me wonder how many scientific articles were polished off quickly in an attempt to meet the deadline!

Well, I finally got started at about 2 or 3pm today, I have been doing OK since then, and my main thoughts currently are:

1. WHY didn't you start this sooner, there is so much to do and now you have to rush to get this finished on time?
2. This really isn't so awful, it's quite methodical and interesting work, so...
3. WHY didn't you start this sooner?

I know you’ve started now, but I find the only way to get past this is to start writing in the middle... to pick a result I can explain easily, draw the graph, and write a paragraph Or a line about it. Repeat. Don’t think of it as a paper, but a presentation - sometimes j even do the writing in text boxes in PowerPoint. After a while I stitch it all together and then start the methods. Then you have got something and the worst of it is over 🙂

That’s a great tip and funnily enough I did start with the methodology!

I’m just so very annoyed with myself for leaving it so late. I’m such a fool. I had a huge mental block over sitting down to work on it, and for what?

Block out all fear and self-recrimination! There’s no time for it!

A couple of suggestions:

When you've finished, book an advanced Word course with your IT training department and make sure it covers outlining,
and/or
Get Scrivener if your university supports it or OneNote if it doesn't and teach yourself/get taught how to write in chunks that you can stitch together later.

Block out all fear and self-recrimination!

this ^ wot @highnetgirth said

whenever you get stuck, try another place to start. In an ideal world, focus on the most productive areas but at a pinch, writing anything is better than nothing.

How about writing the conclusion, then adding in all the bits that support those conclusions?

If all else fails, doodle a spider diagram of your key points, then expend each. Or maybe if your structure and expand from there.

Are you using Word headings and sub headings? If do, outline view let's you expand and collapse these. It's genius. Wird also provide a word count which can be reassuring.

It's all good.

ps I'm much closer to retirement than finals and I still find myself writing to a deadline. When it works, it's great. Sigh.

Here I am again, today should be data analysis... I have simply no inclination to do it, so I am behind, again

You and me both!