How To: Get Started on a Paper
It’s very normal to have trouble getting started on a paper. There are many different reasons this can happen: a lack of confidence in one’s writing ability; a complex essay assignment; or a research gap that needs to be overcome by reading more.
Here are a few tips, tricks, and exercises for getting started on a paper when you’re feeling some resistance.
Get started early.
It’s easier to take on small pieces of a writing assignment at a time, instead of tackling the whole thing at once. Write up a rough schedule to follow, and give yourself time to revise and edit.
Spend time analyzing the assignment.
Figure out what the assignment is really asking you, and what exactly you’ll need to do to respond appropriately. What is your professor expecting? Break it down into smaller pieces of work, such as:
- Gather and read a certain number of sources
- Read a poem or a short story carefully and take notes
- Formulate an argument to guide your paper
- Is there a rubric or checklist that goes along with the assignment? Read it carefully.
Do some research to stimulate your thinking.
Sometimes it’s almost impossible to start a paper without first doing at least a little exploratory research. Usually for academic papers, it’s a good idea to start your research in the BRCC Library catalog or in a scholarly database like Academic Search Complete. The library has also prepared a Research Guide with recommended scholarly databases by subject. Ask a librarian if you are unsure how to begin researching.
Freewrite.
Freewriting gives you the space and time to write freely, without censoring yourself in any way. This can help you break the fear of the blank page, or fear of imperfection. First give yourself an easy, open-ended prompt, such as:
- How am I feeling about this essay? (If nervous, why?)
- What I really want to say in this essay is…
- How might I organize my essay or my time today?
Set a timer for 10 minutes. Then make yourself write for that period of time, without stopping. Follow the prompt in any direction it leads you, even if it is someplace far away. Just keep your fingers moving on the keyboard, or your pencil moving across the paper, letting go of any judgments that might arise. Simply let your thoughts flow on the page.
Talk about it out loud.
This exercise is especially helpful for people who love to talk and might be more comfortable speaking than writing.
- One approach is to ask a friend, classmate, or family member to have a conversation with you about your chosen subject, to get your thoughts flowing.
- Another option is to use your phone to record yourself talking about your chosen subject for at least five minutes, then listen back to it. As you’re re-listening, write down anything that stands out as a potential thesis, piece of evidence, or question for research.
Brainstorm a list.
Write down an open-ended question about your subject matter. For example:
- Why am I interested in this subject in the first place?
- Why does a particular character make a particular choice in a novel?
- How does the setting of a poem influence its meaning?
- Why do I believe that a certain album by a certain musician is their best one?
Then give yourself 10 minutes to write a list of as many possible answers as you can think of, without censoring yourself too much. When the time is up, go back through your list and:
- circle any items that might serve as a basis for a thesis or argument
- underline anything that seems like a good piece of evidence
- draw an arrow next to anything that seems like good background information
- cross out anything that seems irrelevant or less important.
Make an outline.
Map out your paper, paragraph by paragraph. (You can use this template if you like.) Almost certainly the first and last paragraphs will be your introduction and conclusion. What are the main ideas you will need to discuss in each body paragraph, to get your reader from beginning to end? What evidence will be needed to support those ideas?
Start with something manageable.
Give yourself a small assignment, such as writing a single body paragraph, crafting a single topic sentence, or finding one piece of evidence. Start small and build slowly. Give yourself a reward each time you complete one of these small steps.
Remember you don’t have to get it right the first time.
The first draft is always messy, incomplete, and unsatisfying. That’s why we revise our work! Keep reminding yourself that the essay will be built and refined over time, with multiple imperfect attempts; it won’t come to life and succeed all at once.