Library 3.0

Sometimes students and writers have anxiety when trying to write an assigned paper. Writing anxiety is also known as writer's block—this is when anxiety or stress about writing prevents you from moving forward with a writing assignment. Some people have fears of snakes or heights, and others get nervous at the thought of writing an assigned essay. Like many fears, a fear of writing can be controlled so it no longer influences you or your performance.

Being anxious about writing can make you avoid doing anything that requires writing, and that limits your skills and prevents you from being able to take on professional opportunities.

This site is here to help you learn how to recognize and cope with writing anxiety. With some understanding of how writing anxiety works, you can develop strategies that ward off problems and enable you to succeed.

Writing Myths

At times, fears and anxieties toward writing can be so overwhelming that myths about writing are perceived as true. These false beliefs are often perpetuated by people who have severe writing anxiety themselves. You may find that understanding the myths and facts about writing is helpful in shaping an improved attitude about writing essays,  manuscripts, books, journals, and whatever.it is you are writing. The following are some of the myths about writing:

• Some people have linear minds, which makes writing easier.
• Writing is easy.
• There is a right way and a wrong way to approach writing.
• Using grammar correctly is the most important part of writing.
• Writing skills are not necessary in my chosen career.
• Only creative people are good at writing.
• Writing to a correct style—like APA—is more important than the actual words.
• Academic writing requires only my opinions about a topic.
• Writing involves taking someone else's words and making them mine.
• Writing does not require planning.
• Writing long prose is the way to approach every assignment.

Dispelling Writing Myths

Some people have linear minds, which makes writing easier.

Writing is not easier or harder for people with one learning type or another. All effective writers begin with prewriting activities, such as freewriting, brainstorming, and mind mapping, before they ever begin to write an essay-or-book.

Writing is easy.

Writing is not easy, but the more you write, the easier it becomes. In fact, learning to write can be compared to riding a bicycle. When you first got on a two-wheeled bike, you didn't ride off merrily down the street. With practice and help, you developed the skills necessary to be able to take off on the bike by yourself.

There is a right way and a wrong way to approach writing.

There is no wrong way to approach writing. After doing prewriting activities—including creating an outline—some people begin by writing the introduction. Some begin by writing about the last major topic in the paper, and some start with the conclusion. Whatever works best for you is the right way.

Using grammar correctly is the most important part of writing.

Grammar is definitely an important part of writing, but it certainly is not the most important. The essential part of writing is the content of the paper—but correct grammar makes that content readable and understandable.

Writing skills are not necessary in my chosen career.

Good writing is a major requirement of most jobs in this information age. Check any online job site, and you will see that the majority of job descriptions—even for jobs that you might not expect to require writing skills, such as phlebotomist or truck driving positions—mention good writing and communication skills as desired capabilities.

Only creative people are good at writing.

Being creative is not a specific requirement for writing.

Writing to a correct style—like APA—is more important than the actual words.

The most important element of any writing is the content, or the actual words and meaning of a paper. Because many different style guides exist, most companies adopt a specific set of guidelines for writing to ensure that all company writing follows a similar style.

Academic writing requires only my opinions about a topic.

Opinions about a topic are less important than the way those opinions are presented in a paper. All papers, especially academic assignments, must be organized and written effectively so the audience can grasp the ideas being presented. Effective writing and organization requires prewriting, writing a draft, letting the draft rest, editing and revising the draft, and rewriting the final paper.

Writing does not require planning.

Just as you plan for many elements in life—taking a trip, saving money for a large purchase, or attending college—writing also involves planning. Writers must consider their audience and purpose, must use prewriting activities, and must write an outline before beginning to write the paper. Sometimes these activities take place over several days, and other times they take only a few hours. Either way, planning your writing is the most effective way to ensure quality.

Writing long prose is the way to approach every assignment.

To keep your readers' attention, you must produce succinct, readable documents that may include short paragraphs and, sometimes, bullets and headings. Long paragraphs may be ignored, misunderstood, or deemed least important, sometimes never to be read.