Necessary in every high school class, writing is a standard skill that everyone learns through education. Many students write lengthy essays, analyses, poems, and reflections throughout their school careers. Sometimes, the hardest writing happens when the ideas must be original and put into clear thoughts quickly. 

One phenomenon can unavoidably occur when a writer can’t think of anything to explain through sentences and paragraphs. This inconvenience is most notoriously known as writer’s block.

Senior Lily Scanlan describes, “The hardest part of writer’s block for me is when writing long essays and trying to get ideas flowing when I’m just stuck. Like with writing my college applications because I stress over making them perfect.” 

This mental block gives the sensation of a mind bursting with ideas, but none of them are strong enough to surface and become the foundations of a written piece. Like trying to concentrate on one spark in a sky full of fireworks. People try to follow their thoughts, but they get muddled by every other conceptual distraction imaginable. 

Writer’s block can feel as though a brick wall lies between one’s creativity and ability to comprehend and innovate ideas into responses in the given writing style.

Sophomore Zoey Carlson describes feeling this in a moment, “I get writer’s block in language arts and journalism class. I think writer’s block is annoying because you know that you can write, and it’s on the tip of your tongue, but it just won’t come out.” Although not a permanent state, writer’s block can seem like a never-ending phase. 

People can get stuck in writer’s block when they try to force themselves to write within time limits, “It’s especially annoying when I know there are deadlines to hit, yet I can’t manage to sufficiently string words together,” Annika Martin shares.

If someone lacks inspiration or overthinks, it’s easy to develop writer’s block, which is an issue that commonly manifests itself in both professional and creative writing. 

Sometimes discouraging, writer’s block can be frustrating to overcome. This enclosed mindset often is in need of a moment to reset. Some techniques people use to rid themselves of writer’s block include creating work in a positive space by taking a few moments to think deeply and relax, writing about things that inspire them, and even practicing writing random topics regularly to exercise the conventions of writing.

Continuing, Carlson postulates, “I think to overcome it, you just have to keep writing. Write whatever you can, don’t stop, and eventually, it will come to you.” Adding another perspective, Hannah Beckley explains how she tackles writer’s block,

“I get past it by stepping away from my work for a bit to reset my brain so I can come back with fresh ideas.”

Stress also leads to panic and a change in brain function in the cortex. This is the same process that triggers procrastination and motivates learning/study habits.

Writer’s block is relatively connected to cognition, and it’s important to process information and thoughts carefully when retaining education and translating it into written notes. 

Writer’s block is an infamous experience for most students and connotes with them a pensive experience, but people can be reassured that this mindset is sure to vanish eventually, and thoughts will begin flowing once again.