1. Fighting the Fear: Five Steps to Eliminating Writer’s Block in the University Classroom Lori Baker-Schena Assistant Professor Department of Journalism California State University, Northridge

2. Why do college students experience writer’s block?

3. What does writer’s block look like? Procrastination Spending hours trying to write the opening paragraph Feelings of apathy, hopelessness, low self-worth

4. This is the flow of creativity.

5. What happens to the flow of creativity when it is hindered by writer’s block?

6. How to Eliminate Writer’s Block: Step 1: Make a road map Make an outline of the article you will be writing. This doesn’t have to be a strict outline. Instead, view it as a road map so that you will know where you are going. This is also the time to do research for your paper.

7. How to Eliminate Writer’s Block: Step 2: Jekyll and Hyde Split yourself into two personalities. One is your “writer” and the other is your “editor.” Actually give these personalities names.

8. How to Eliminate Writer’s Block: Step 3: Time to write When you are ready to write, become your “writer.” Simply throw all of your content onto the page following the road map. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense, the introduction is not strong enough, or there are several typos and grammar mistakes. By allowing yourself to write in an uninterrupted fashion, you will not disrupt the natural flow of your narrative by stopping and starting for editing issues. And your roadmap will give you content.

9. How to Eliminate Writer’s Block: Step 4: Time to edit Take some time off – either an hour or a day. Then revisit the paper as the “editor” and edit the article for flow, grammar, spelling, typos and content.

10. How to Eliminate Writer’s Block: Step 5: Time to revisit your paper Take some more time off – either an hour or a day -- and then review the paper as the writer/editor. You may want to print out the paper and use a red pen to go over any editing, type or grammar problems you will find.

11. While this five-step process sounds simple, it gives students a viable framework to write their reports or articles.

12. It removes the fear by letting “the writer” write, without worrying about grammar or spelling.

13. It also requires that the student start the project early enough to be “become” either the writer or the editor. This helps eliminate procrastination.

14. Finally, it removes the “anxiety” of writing because the first phase involves just placing thoughts and words on the page without worrying about grammar or spelling.

15. Lori Baker-Schena Assistant Professor Department of Journalism California State University, Northridge bscomm@ca.rr.com Thank you!