Writer’s block is real. One of the biggest obstacles to student creativity and productivity is that they don’t feel like their work is meaningful or important. How can we help students who suffer from writer’s block? With these 6 ways to crush writer’s block, you are bound to help students overcome their fears and feel valued and heard.
What is Writer’s Block?
Writer’s block is a condition in which a writer with the desire to write finds himself or herself unable to write. The expression “writer’s block” was coined and popularized by American psychoanalyst Edmund Bergler in the 1940s.
Why Do We Get Writer’s Block?
Writers need to believe that what they write matters, even on bad writing days, bad life days, the rejection and criticism that all poets are certain to receive. In the face of these obstacles, how can we encourage our students to just keep writing?
Self-criticism, doubt, and anxiety can contribute to student hesitancy with writing. But remember that intuitive examination is a skill of maturity and often; one that would force students to look at uncomfortable questions about whether what they’re writing is meaningful or even worth turning in.
So, how do we help students combat writer’s block?
6 strategies to help students start and keep writing:
1 Drop everything. Too often students are trying to multitask when working on schoolwork. A good habit to practice is “dropping everything” and rushing directly to writing. Even though they may not be in the mood to write, drop everything, be present, and write.
2 Tell students that they matter. Encouragement goes a long way to improve student productivity. They need to internalize that their writing matters. Their voice matters. Their opinions matter. Provide guidance through the writing process. Reassurance and praise are the cornerstones of student success in any classroom.
3 Students must confront their fear. Writer’s block is often the go-to-excuse for students to not write. Students are much more likely to complain about writing than to figure out why they are not writing. Oftentimes the fear of failure stops students. Encouraging them to stop thinking about the outcome of their writing and rather, focus on the process of writing is beneficial.
I recommend starting with a free writing or quick writes. In truth, you overcome writer’s block by writing. Period. That’s it. That’s the best solution. So, I encourage my students to put their pencils to paper for 3-5 minutes. This technique can help students explore ideas without the distraction of rules and conventions of English grammar.
4 Get inspired. Inspiration can come from anywhere. Students can be inspired by music, artwork, magazines, newspapers, and even by each other.
Here are some ideas that I’ve used to counter students’ writer’s block: color symbolism is a great place to start; paint color cards often have creative names and can be used for inspiration, a words-only-collage of magazine headlines can be used to make a found poem, and of course, creativity doubles when you’re moving versus sitting.
5 Get moving. Movement is crucial. Studies have shown that creativity gets a boost when we move. So, get your students up and moving; take the class for a brief walk around the building (weather permitting) to help get the creativity flowing!
6 Doodle or make a sketch. Some students pre-write by doodling or drawing. This is an especially good tactic in the early elementary grades, but it can be effective in older grades too. I find it helpful to limit the time to sketch to about ten minutes.
Another good idea for those who are hesitant to draw is a Venn diagram. A Venn diagram uses overlapping circles or other shapes to illustrate the logical relationships between two or more sets of items. Often, they serve to graphically organize things, highlighting how the items are similar and different.
If you’re looking for more inspiration for teaching poetry, check out 40 Poetry Writing Prompts. I’d love to see your students’ poems, so have them use #teachingwithpoetry to share their poetry with me @teachingwithpoetry!
