Starting an essay can be as formidable as facing a killer wave; the fear of the unknown can result in a serious case of writer’s block! Read about how this student I tutored overcame his fear of writing:
He faced the blank emptiness before him and knew he must not only enter into it but also build upon it to write his paper. He recalled an old saying he had often heard: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” (Confucius). He checked his supplies - notes, pens, and paper - and wondered where he would find what he needed most, an idea. He scratched his nose, coughed, and looked determinedly into the void. He still had no words, no ideas. “Oh, well,” he mumbled, “the first step is the first word. I must begin somewhere.”
He stared at the paper, white and completely lacking solidly real black print. He sighed and forced himself to start, resolved to let his thoughts appear however they fell upon the page. He wrote quickly, not pausing to perfect sentences or examine punctuation. What he needed for his first draft consisted primarily of ideas. Word upon word, line after line sped across the page as he wrote.
When he read his rough draft, he saw that he did have what he sought. He knew he could now complete his essay and revise later. The most important aspect of his work - his thoughts - had emerged. A thousand miles or a thousand words, he would complete the journey.
Roxy’s tip: Just do it! Just start writing, and the ideas will come!
See you next time the breeze is cool, the sun is up, and the waves roll into view! My next entry is coming soon. ‘Til then, hang ten!
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