Beat the Block: Let's Talk

What to do when you can't create the outline

Every time I start a new project with a client, I have a set process. The first thing we do is copy and paste the assignment onto our shared document. Not only does this provide us with an outline, as discussed in a previous post, but this is a consistent and effective starting point for most papers. Sometimes, however, the prompt is hard to understand. Or, sometimes, an outline is simply not enough to get the brain juices flowing. In this case, you feel like throwing your pen at the wall. You keep starting and stopping. You know the material, but you cannot figure out how to start writing!

That is when the second step comes into play. Here is where you talk to someone. Yes, you heard me correctly. My foolproof method to get students to write is to ask them to simply, start talking. Before the frustration starts, I ask what the client is learning. I ask them to describe the subject of the project in its most basic form. I ask for anything else they learned relating to the topic. I ask for a description of how their professor teaches. I ask for personal experiences they have had in class. I ask what their non-academic thoughts are on the subject. I ask and let them answer.

By asking clients to answer, they are getting out of the student mindset and into a teaching mindset. The teaching mindset is the basis of writing an informative essay. Any expository piece has to be grounded in facts. So, by engaging in conversation with another, who has no clue about the topic, the client finds themselves presenting the facts and writing the essay out loud.

At the end of the conversation, we reflect. I point out that they know much more about the topic than they had thought. I point out that they answered the original question without realizing it. Together, we have that “a-ha” moment, and that is where the writing begins. From there, we can dive deeper into the topic, asking and answering more questions until the prompt is completely answered. All the while, taking notes on our conversation. Afterward, we will turn those notes into the outline we were struggling to make. Just like that, the student knows what they are going to write about. The rest is cake.

However, not everyone can work with a writing coach, so what do you do then? There is a simple solution. I suggest that you go talk to your siblings, parents, family, cousins, classmates, friends, or even yourself. You might find that even pretending to have a conversation may get your thoughts rolling. If you are still having trouble getting started on an assignment, book a session with me, and I will be happy to help you build your confidence in the process. Happy writing!

-Erin Bitinaitis

M.S. Psychology

Better than Books LLC