Writing a First Draft

1. Focus on putting your thoughts into words

  • Put your central thesis argument or question somewhere you can easily refer back to during the writing process. Maybe also write out your goal: what do you want to achieve in this piece?
  • Start writing the paragraph that interests you most, not necessarily the one that will appear first. In fact, usually writing the introduction later works better.
  • Don't aim for perfection. The intention is to develop rough material that you can revise later. Think of it as an early sketch for a later design.
  • Try to keep a constant flow. If you get stuck, write placeholders like "[INSERT EXAMPLE HERE]" or "____". Stuck on a challenging paragraph? Skip to the next one and come back to it later.
  • If you cannot remember a specific word or term, write as many synonyms as you can remember and later refer to a Thesaurus for a better definition.
  • Start in a more natural medium. For example, record yourself casually explaining your ideas to a friend (real or imagined), and then transcribe the exact words you say.
  • Do not worry about formatting or citation styles, but make sure you reference everything for later corrections. Use Zotero to manage your citations.

2. Use your own voice

Write to be understood. Imagine you are explaining your ideas to someone unfamiliar with the topic, or imagine a curious reader looking over your shoulder asking what you mean. Show how you interpret the information and what you think it matters or what it means. [SANDWICH METHOD]

3. Balance structure & clarity

  • Your outline is a useful planning tool for staying organized and on task, but it should also be responsive and adaptable. The act of writing may reveal new connections or weaknesses in your original plan.
  • The first draft is an opportunity to be bold and daring. See how far you can push an argument or how unlikely a connection you can make. Try asking yourself tough questions and thinking outside the box. You might discover something unexpected and valuable.

Overcoming Writer's Bock

The paralysis that comes from staring at a blank page has haunted all writers at some point in their lives. If you feel stuck, it is important to overcome the initial inertia with smaller, less committed steps before you start writing the final product. This section provides a list of approaches to overcome writer's block. 

 
Identify your fears

Identify and make a list of what is blocking your brain. They might seem much smaller once you've listed them. For bigger issues, try to create actionable steps to address them
 
Speak with a third-party

Externalizing your thoughts can be helpful at any stage of your writing. You can schedule office hours with your instructor, discuss your ideas with a colleague, or book a session with writing services at the Frances Loeb Library. Alternatively, you can use yourself as a third party by speaking to a speech-to-text app and reading your ideas. 
 
Start small

Start with the smaller, less daunting tasks. Commit yourself to working 5 or 10 minutes on the writing, even if during those minutes you just write the headers or bibliography. If possible, try to make a list of tasks and pick one or two to work on. 
 
Change your environment

Select a place to work where people around you are doing a similar type of work. Try to restrict distractions by turning off notifications on your devices for a set time. 
 
Change the medium

Everyone has a preferred medium to start a writing piece, whether handwriting on paper or typing on a computer. If you feel stuck, try working on a first draft with the opposite of what you are most comfortable with. 

For example, if you prefer writing by hand, start by typing a few ideas. Use the speed of the computer to write as fast as you can and as many ideas as you can. Alternatively, if you are more comfortable with typing, try switching to handwriting. Turn off all devices, get in a quiet space, and force yourself to write anything that comes to mind.