The Causes of Writer's Block and How to Overcome Them (Academic writing)

Summary

This video tackles the common issue of writer's block among academic writers, categorizing it into three main challenges: aversion to writing due to negative emotions, uncertainty about content, and lack of writing skills. The speaker suggests strategies such as replacing negative emotions with positive ones, breaking down writing tasks into smaller parts, seeking specific feedback, and improving academic writing skills. The video also offers a checklist for writing tasks and encourages viewers to engage in the comments.

Takeaways

• 📚 Writer's block is common among academic writers and can be categorized into three main issues: not liking to write, not knowing what to write, and not knowing how to write.
• 😟 Negative emotions like fear of rejection or criticism can lead to a dislike of writing, stemming from an inner critic or past negative experiences.
• 🎉 To overcome negative emotions, replace them with positive ones, celebrate small wins, and separate the writing and editing processes.
• 🔍 Criticism and feedback are essential for improving papers, but if the feedback lacks actionable advice, seek more specific suggestions from mentors or collaborators.
• 📈 Overwhelm in writing a research paper can be managed by breaking down the writing process into smaller, manageable tasks or chunks.
• 🧠 Lack of knowledge or information about the research gap can cause uncertainty in writing; addressing this involves revisiting literature and understanding the field's contributions.
• 🤔 Difficulty in understanding research findings might hinder writing; discussing with collaborators and biostatisticians can clarify the meaning behind the data.
• 💭 A fully formed idea is crucial for writing; brainstorming and mind mapping can help in developing a clear scientific story.
• 📝 Academic writing requires not just grammar skills but also an understanding of research paper structure and argument building.
• 🌐 For non-native English speakers, building a strong foundation in paragraph and sentence structure is essential before advancing to academic writing techniques.
• 📈 Improving academic writing is a gradual process that requires practice and focusing on one skill layer at a time.

Q & A

What is the common problem discussed in the video script?

The video script discusses the common problem of writer's block, particularly among academic writers.

How many buckets of causes for writer's block are mentioned in the script?

The script mentions three buckets of causes for writer's block: not liking writing, not knowing what to write, and not knowing how to write.

What are the negative emotions associated with writing that contribute to writer's block?

The negative emotions contributing to writer's block include fear, anxiety, fear of rejection, fear of not meeting expectations, and fear of criticism.

What is the recommendation for dealing with negative emotions during writing?

The recommendation is to replace negative emotions with positive ones, celebrate small wins, focus on progress, and separate free-flow writing from the editing process.

How can criticism and feedback be handled to overcome writer's block?

To handle criticism and feedback, one can ask for more specific suggestions on how to improve writing from mentors and collaborators, and understand that critique is meant to improve the paper.

What is suggested for dealing with the feeling of being overwhelmed when writing a research paper?

The script suggests breaking down the writing process into smaller chunks or tasks, such as listing key findings for the discussion section.

Why might a researcher lack the knowledge or information about their research gap?

A researcher might lack the knowledge or information if they haven't thoroughly reviewed the literature and papers on what has been done in their field.

How can a researcher ensure they understand their research findings for writing purposes?

Researchers should communicate with their collaborators and biostatisticians to understand what the numbers mean and how they can form arguments based on the data.

What is the advice for those who struggle with transforming ideas into clear academic writing?

The advice is to practice and work on academic writing skills layer by layer, starting with the basics of paragraph and sentence structure if needed.

What additional resources are suggested for improving academic writing skills?

The script suggests joining academic writing forums or Facebook groups for support and learning about the elements of academic writing.

How can someone who is not proficient in English improve their academic writing skills?

For those whose English is not their first language, the script recommends going back to basics, building a foundation in paragraph and sentence structure, and gradually improving academic writing skills.