How I Killed Writer's Block

As in my post, "How to Pull an All-Nighter," the important topic headings - The Writing Center and The Digital Recorder - are boldfaced for scanning.

I have always had terrible problems/anxiety writing papers. I have always HATED writing assignments because of it. No amount of boldface, italics, or increases in font size can possibly stress my feelings in the previous sentence enough. I was constantly putting off papers because of that awful dread.

Oh, sure - occasionally, I will have bursts of insight that I can type about for eons on end - but that typically isn't the norm. During an official IQ test I took in 2nd grade (part of the process for my diagnosis), the psychologist asked me to write something or other. Well...I didn't. Instead, I crawled under the table and cried about it for about ten minutes. That incident is far closer to my normal reaction to paper assignments. I have even neglected to write my assignments for a number of classes! Knowing all this, it's pretty ironic that I'm writing a blog... ;)

Two of my final semester's tools worked amazingly well together to reduce my writer's block, though; my college's writing center combined with my digital recorder.

There's a list of suggestions my sister found and passed on to me at the time (I will dig it out and edit it into this post later) that made a lot of sense - some of which I was already doing. Combining them made written assignments a breeze compared to the horrible struggles I went through before. My main problem was that I always had trouble getting my countless ideas from my head to the page. This list played a part in overcoming that.

Basically, what they suggested was to find someone you could talk to for 10-20 minutes about your paper immediately before typing; essentially, to get your mind into a state of thinking about the problem and generating ideas. With the right person asking leading questions, you could essentially verbalize an entire paper in well under an hour!

The Writing Center's role

I had been essentially doing this for years through my college's Writing Center, which was chock full of tutors who were trained to help you at any stage of your paper...from brainstorming, to structuring the paper, down to copy editing. I typically used them for brainstorming and some structure. It was GREAT! I found that I always generated tons of ideas while verbally talking about them! I never really needed structure or copy editing because I found that my papers typically flowed VERY smoothly once I was on a roll. My only snag was in brainstorming - alleviated by talking to a tutor trained to draw out my ideas.

...the problem was, by the time I got to the keyboard - even with notes from the session, written by the tutor - everything I had discussed with them was gone. Another irony with me - I don't remember jack squat orally, but when *I* write it down it's typically burned into my head...at least exactly what I wrote is. This is where the digital recorder played its key role.

The digital recorder's role

The digital recorder functioned as my memory of the session. It allowed me to - on demand - play back my conversation with the tutor. This meant that every idea that came to me out of discussion was preserved! I would simply carry my recorder with me when I went to type, and play back the entire conversation while typing.

The brilliant thing about my own digital recorder, the Olympus DM-10, is that during a recording you can set up to 16 'index marks' to skip to that particular point. Think of index marks as 'tracks' on a CD. It's amazing. I'd just hit the 'set index point' button on the recorder during the conversation (or class) and I could EASILY find that point again by clicking the fast forward/rewind button during playback. I used this to mark topic changes during my writing center sessions, which allowed me to play back ideas as often as I needed to while typing. Basically, this allowed me to relive the idea generation process that occured live.

If you have a digital recorder that doesn't have this function, bring some form of stopwatch instead(cell phones typically have one), synchronize the stopwatch with the start of the recording, and just write down the stopwatch time the topic of conversation switched.

This made my last semester SO much more bearable - and allowed me to function in a class that had 10 papers due as assignments, and without relying extensively on extensions! I NEVER would have done so well before combining those ideas. If you have any comments or suggestions, please feel free to leave them!

A quick word on lengthening papers

I was looking through some Facebook groups earlier when I came across (and joined) one called Writing Papers Single Spaced First Makes My Double Spaced Result Climactic. Now, I've done that before, and it's a GREAT feeling to watch your material double in length. I've also done my share of BSing papers before...but not even close to the sophistication of the group members. Holy cow. When I'm strapped for time - and more importantly ideas - I will rely *heavily* on quotes. They're fantastic for making points.

In addition, it's possible to base a paper around quotes. Cheating/plagarism isn't necessary - in fact, citations can take up a HUGE chunk of space. When I was strapped for time once, I simply found a few good quotes that answered the questions the assignment was asking, and just started typing as much as I could think of that was related to the quote. It can really help eliminate writer's block. Granted, the particular paper I'm thinking of didn't get finished - but I still handed it in for partial credit.

But these students? Genius. I've played with the document settings before - occasionally 'adjusting' (read:widening) the margins. I never really did much with fonts, but toward the end of my college years I started to see a lot of my teachers start to specify the font and size to use for the papers. There were many...other things that gave me a good laugh, things that never occured to me. Some of my favorite wordplay suggestions (out of a very long and impressive list) included using long synonyms, and also using the passive voice for sentences.

I didn't get very far in the lists, but it's definitely worth looking at those message boards. Their ideas were BRILLIANT, and I can in no way take credit for their ideas. If you have any other ideas you didn't see (between this post and their message boards), leave comments! :) I would be willing to share - privately - the more...clever tricks I saw. I don't know if I would personally be comfortable using ALL of the tricks that were mentioned, but I'm not you - and I'm not the one writing your paper. Use whatever you found useful (or necessary), and good luck in your paper writing! As I discover more, I will update the blog. Good luck!

The Art of Pulling an All-Nighter

If you're in a time crunch for reading this, the first paragraph or two below every section will contain the necessary instructions. If not, look for boldface. The rest explains the reasoning. The three main sections to look at are food, napping, and stimulants. Also, if you find this useful, please share it with your friends and donate to me through the paypal button if possible. Thanks, read on!

I was not really a good student. Ever. Whether it was my ADD that got me into trouble, my ability to understand/learn new things incredibly quickly, or my decision to take advantage of the previous two things and procrastinate till the very last possible SECOND...I don't know. I don't care either - I graduated (and by the very skin of my teeth, mind you - BUT I DID!). It was messy, but I made it.

Messy enough that I, toward the end of my schooling, once pulled 3 all-nighters in a single week (2 nights in a row on at least one occasion). In other words, I know how to compensate for a lack of foresight that leaves you sweating wikipedia entries (among other things) at the keyboard.

All-nighters are a sticky, sticky situation...especially if you're a busy student. It's a pretty unpleasant situation to be facing a paper due the next morning and start typing it at 10 pm that night. There's a reason for the facebook group "College Took My Circadian Rhythm and Shot It Between the Eyes."

Before You Start

Anyway, the first thing you have to do when you're facing an all-nighter is take an assessment of a few things:

1. Amount of available time, in hours, that you have to work on the project (realistically)
   
2. Length of project (in pages, assuming it's a paper)
3. Your average pace (typically in minutes/page...i.e. how long it takes you to type one page)
4. Amount of sleep you've gotten over the past two nights + naps (important, will affect pace)
   
5. Access to food (your sleep deprived, glucose starved brain will need it!)
   
6. Access to stimulants you can LEGALLY use (more on that in a bit)
7. How much previous preparation you've done (It's okay to laugh. I would.)
   

The better you know these things, the more accurate your contingency plan will be.

Why? I'll explain point by point.

#1: self explanitory. Subtract meals and classes from this time.

#2: see #3.

#3: perhaps the most important thing to know; combines with #2 to give you an estimate for how long it's going to take you. I've known people who have gone as fast as 20 minutes per page; I have no idea hth they did that - it takes me roughly an hour to type out one page, including time spent searching out resources (and I type at over 80 WPM). If you don't know your #3, a good rule of thumb is about 1 hr/page. (post if you disagree, this is VERY important!)

#4: Will affect how quickly your brain is going to work, and how often you're going to need breaks. This will become critical towards sunrise!

#5: Like #4 - see my post on vending machine nutrition.

#6: This is going to be very important later on at night. I say 'stimulants' and stress legal because, in addition to caffeine, ADD/HD prescriptions fit the bill for some. I take Adderal XR for my ADHD, and it works VERY well for me (and yes, I have used it for the 'side effect' of "sleeplessness") - but I recommend against taking it if you don't have a legal prescription. There are cases out there of heart attacks - this *IS* speed, people!

#7: Laugh all you want (OMFGROFLMFAOLOLOLOLOLHAHAHAHAHAHA...*ahem*), but this can speed up #3; if you're VERY well read in your subject, it *could* potentially double your typing rate. Chances are, though, that if you did that - you wouldn't need to be reading this. ;)

How to actually pull it off.

Before getting to the heart of the matter, I just want to start off by saying two things. One, I'm a total fanatic of naps. I LOVE naps, and have been able to use them to full advantage. Two, I don't drink caffeine very often...I usually 'save' it for emergencies such as these - so it also tends to have a more potent effect on me. Plus, caffeine reduces the effects of prescription stimulants (as noted by Dr. Daniel Amen in many of his books).

Now that you know all of this, it's time to get into the routine. Do whatever you normally do - music, no music...whatever. The keys here: 1, 2, 3, and 7 are fixed by the time you start typing; so there isn't much you can do about those. However, 4, 5 and 6 (sleep, food, and stimulants) are not, and can either grind you to a snoring halt or help you make it to the end. Careful management of these three things can keep you constantly productive for 8-10 hours or longer. Also, I recommend doing your project in a public setting - a lounge or a computer lab.

Food

If you've read my Vending Machine Nutrition post - you'll understand that sugar (High GI) - for a long period of concentration such as this - is a big mistake. You definitely want to get as much protein and low GI foods as possible. If all you have are vending machines, Snickers bars or nuts are your best bets. If not (or you're allergic to peanunts), try some other sources of protein; hard-boiled eggs, yogurt (plain if possible - use cinnamon to spice it up [according to You, The Owner's Manual, cinnamon actually helps insulin do its job, a bonus in this case), cheese, raw almonds. There are others, but those four are my absolute favorites. Beef jerky would also be a decent source (minus all the preservatives).

You don't ever need to feel full, but do not let yourself get hungry under any circumstances. If I start to feel sleepy, it's a good indication that my brain is starved for energy (in the form of glucose). Grazing on any source of protein will help you stay alert FAR longer than if you had sugars...I am hypoglycemic (my blood sugars dip too low), and my body is *very* sensitive to this. Protein helps a TREMENDOUS amount, and is released into the bloodstream far more slowly than pure sugar. All you need is a few cubes of cheese, a spoonful of yogurt every 15-20 minutes (or more), etc.

In addition, I have also heard that Vitamin C also helps. I have no clue how, but when I find out more I'll add the info. Emergen-C has been recommended to me.

Naps (Sleep)

Ok. This is a point where some of you may disagree with me. Many times I've advocated naps and many people tell me, "Oh, that doesn't work for me," or "...if I dare take a nap I'll fall asleep for hours!" I could use some more information on this from the nay-sayers of napping - because I don't really understand what's so difficult about taking a nap. My concern to you: if you're falling asleep within *five* minutes...you seriously need to be getting more rest! Ideally, it should take up to 20-25 minutes for a rested person to fall asleep. Americans just DON'T get enough sleep, period - and it's killing our ability to be productive (The Ingenuity Gap, don't know the author).

The way I typically do things:
With some form of alarm in place, I will:

• take a 5-10 minute nap every hour at the beginning of the night
• take a 10-15 minute nap every hour through the end of the night
• take a 45 minute nap every 4 hours for a BIG boost in alertness

The true goal of a nap is NOT falling asleep; it's just to give your brain a little rest. From many different sources (none of which I can remember), the ideal nap is anywhere from 10-45 minutes in length; NEVER LONGER. Exhausted, I've gone into a nap and just shut my eyes for 15 minutes and open them feeling absolutely amazing. You'd be surprised how LONG 15 minutes can feel.

Ideally; taking a nap is just shutting your eyes for a while. Occasionally, I've started dreaming, but when I've limited the time to under 45 minutes, I don't remember ever missing my alarm. Even 15 minutes is plenty. Now - you may be screaming at me right now, "ARE YOU CRAZY? THIS IS CUTTING INTO MY TYPING TIME!" Yes, it does - for now...but carefully managing your sleep at the BEGINNING of the night is going to grant you a minimum of 4-6 productive hours later.

According to You, The Owner's Manual, a stopgap measure in situations you *can't* sleep in is to sleep 15 minutes every 4 hours. This can be done for up to four days without trouble.

Just make sure you've got an alarm. I typically don't fall asleep, and sometimes my thoughts will drift during the entire nap, but that's totally okay. It's even better when, as you relax, you can feel your mind go fuzzy for a while. Those naps are SUPER energizing. The only requirement is that you close your eyes for the whole nap. If you fear you'll fall asleep, lie down on the floor with a jacket/bookbag as a pillow or something - just don't crawl into bed. It's better if you're in a public setting (just make sure you save your work before you nap so the labs don't log you off!), because it's harder to get *too* comfortable.

Stimulants

Ahh...chemical sleep in a can/pill/mug. Nectar of the gods! Basically, because stimulants increase your metabolism of food, you need to watch your food intake more closely when you use them; particularly caffeine, which crashes blood sugars, causing fatigue. My best guess is that energy drinks - some of which also contain caffeine - are the same way. Basically, my rule of thumb here is NO STIMULANTS BEFORE 2 AM.

While caffiene causes some positive feedback loops in the brain (I don't remember where I read this, but these effects can be felt up to 10-12 hours), it actually lasts only about 3 hours in the system. You're best off waiting as late as possible to start in with them. Once you've used them, DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR NAPS. Your heart will pound (especially if you've combined caffeine with prescription stimulants), but the nap will still do its job.

Prescription stimulants (for those with legal prescriptions) are a slightly different story. For those who have them: it's up to you when to use them. I've 'used' my prescriptions late at night for their main purpose for focus (because it's silly to work w/o them), getting the side benefit of staying awake more easily (though I have fallen asleep while on them, lol).

The Following Morning (the aftermath & recovery)

The familiar bloodshot, bleary-eyed aftermath... I can only imagine that you're absolutely exhausted after this ordeal (hopefully it'll take a few hours after you're done to catch up with you, if you've managed your naps right). Continue eating as much protein as you can into the day - just doing that alone has helped me stay surprisingly alert for the following day. If you have to (or can), nap in the afternoon...but try to do it before 4 pm or you *might* have trouble sleeping that night. If you can, exercise in the late afternoon or early evening - that'll finish the knockout blow you need to recover.

Disclaimer: You take this advice at your own risk. You recognize that these methods do carry certain risks; I will not be responsible for any damage/harm caused by using the methods described above. These are meant to be applied in worst-case scenarios if you have no other choice, and can lead to serious long term consequences if abused.

That being said, I wish you all the best of luck with your projects! Leave comments and suggestions (and donations if possible) ;) about what worked and what didn't work for you. I will likely create another post to specifically ask about napping strategies and habits. Take care and good luck!