#writersblock #writingadvice #gandalf
Trying to make progress on your college application essays but feel in a rut? Don’t worry – you’re in the majority.
Writer’s block is a common side effect of attempting to process a bajillion different ideas bouncing in your head and pinpoint what’s most relevant to the story you wish to tell admissions officers. It’s a herculean task, so give yourself some grace!
Plus, I’m going to share with you 3 tried-and-tested (by me) methods for thawing out your frozen brain and firing up those writing neurons:
1 — Write a terrible first draft.
On purpose. Yup, your initial draft doesn’t have to adhere to pesky grammar rules or even the standards of civilized communication. It can include a mixture of different languages, if you’re multilingual. Heck, what you write might even be labeled as gibberish or gobbledygook by some. All that’s okay. The main goal here is to spill the first thoughts that come to your mind out onto the page.
It’s counterintuitive, but when you babble without expectations about sounding “smart,” “eloquent,” or even “intelligible,” you’re more likely to pinpoint the real, raw core of what you want to say. And once you’ve got that, it’s much easier to edit and polish later, filling in those gaps in logic, flow, and style.
2 — Talk and sound out your ideas.
How often do we really stop and listen to ourselves think? Not very. We spend so much time speaking, (doom)scrolling, and reacting that we rarely slow down long enough to consciously consider what’s brewing in our own psyche. And this phenomenon tends to create a disconnect between what we write and what we actually feel and believe.
So grab your phone and record a voice note to yourself about what’s on your mind. Then, after a good night’s sleep, play it back and reflect: Do your ideas still make sense, or do they need tweaking or substituting? You can also pitch your thoughts to a parent, sibling, friend, or random bloke on the subway – beseech their honest-to-God feedback. Sounding boards are gold.
3 — Go outside and wander around.
I’m a homebody, so this one hits home. I could remain plopped on the couch all day like a potato with glasses, but that’s not healthy … or productive, mind you. Our brains regularly need fresh air and a change of scene to function. Change gives us a chance to think anew.
So what are you waiting for? If you’re slouched over the computer (like me), head out the door and take a walk. Grab a snack to munch on along the way. Or a notebook to fill with insights that bolt into your head from the skies above. Where should you head to? Not important.
For as Gandalf, that sagacious wizard from J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, once penned in a letter to guide the hobbit Frodo on his noble quest:
“Not all those who wander are lost.”
We modern folk don’t wander enough. We’re always about maximizing efficiency with our “go, go, go!” mentality, which isn’t really conducive to the delicate, time-indulgent art of writing.
Becoming a good writer takes time. You need time to just let yourself and your thoughts explore off the beaten path for a while – because it’s often in the most random moments that the brightest sparks of creativity are born.
Dream2College 
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