<p>Lots of good advice about organization, and writing strategies here. I’d like to hear more about the emotional component of writer’s block, including perfectionism as dbwes mentioned. They say people fear public speaking more than death, and I think writing triggers a lot of the same anxiety about self-expression. Any thoughts?</p>
<p>My husband does this for a living. An experienced writing consultant should be able to help. For example, since your son is having trouble with formal writing, he can start by writing a letter to “Aunt Margaret” about the issues he needs to write about. But, everyone has a different cause of writer’s block. If the folks at the writing center aren’t experienced enough, perhaps the professor or department chair can recommend someone. </p>
<p>I recently thought it would be a great idea to have a professor on instructor who specializes in writing in residence at the dorms.</p>
<p>My son can get going if he has a good “rant” to share. Also, we’ve had him dictate and that can help. </p>
<p>You might also look at “Caged in Chaos” by a teen with dysplaxia. She’s charming – and captures how hard it is to get going – and some of her solutions.</p>
<p>Some people find editing easier than writing.</p>
<p>If your son is one of these, you could suggest that he write a really bad first draft – just to get something down on paper. Then, when he has something to work with, he can tweak it until he is satisfied – adding things, subtracting things, changing things, whatever.</p>
<p>I write for a living, and this is what I do whenever the writing task I’m faced with seems difficult. I turn the formidable writing task into an editing task – which changes the whole situation because I happen to love editing.</p>
<p>mantori.suzuki: I started to think visual-spatial learner when I read your initial post. LoremIpsum mentioned it first and I would also suggest you look at the web site for visual spatial learners. I also had a book called something like “The gifted learning disabled child” and it gave me some insight into what my son was struggling with. </p>
<p>Problem is that the school systems don’t seem to be able to provide any real help. He was on an individualized education plan (IEP) from the 5th grade thru the 9th. Most of the time it was just to monitor his progress. The study skill classes that they recommended were a waste of time for him. They tried to make him do outlines, etc; just the worst thing for the way his mind worked. He ended up helping the special ed teacher teach math to his classmates. Not exactly what we were looking for so we pulled him out. We did find that his writting improved with time. It got really good if you could get him to agree to actually edit his writting. Most of the time he viewed his first draft as his last draft.</p>
<p>We thought he was doing well enough to not need any help in college and at first he didn’t. However he started struggling somewhat at the end of his 2nd year. (he is now a senior this year in mechanical engineering). We contacted an office at school that deals with learning disabilities and they were somewhat helpfull. He (since he is over 18) had to contact them and ask for help. They sent him to a psychologist for an evaluation (which we had to pay for). The end result was an evaluation that the college used to be able to give him more time to take tests. For most of the engineering classes, he does not want to say anything to the prof, so nothing is said and he gets no special attention. But for those literature, etc. classes he chooses to ask for the extra time. Not a whole lot of help, but it is something.</p>
<p>Interesting that having dealt with my son’s issues, I see that I have always had the same problem, just a much milder case. Guess that the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree.</p>
<p>I had writer’s block issues in grad school, until I started keeping a dream journal for a psych class. The journal was just a record of the dream, in as much detail as possible – no interpretation or analysis, just pure description. There was no requirement that it be grammatically correct, spelled correctly, or even make sense; IOW, no pressure of any kind. It turned out to be a great exercise in writing; somehow it seemed to loosen up the whole process.</p>
<p>Some may not agree with me, but since this is an immediate problem with immediate consequences (the class is half over), then I think an immediate “quick fix” solution is needed for short-term and something more in-depth for a long term solution.</p>
<p>Since the immediate goal is to get a good grade for this semester (maybe needed to keep scholarship?), then I would tell my son to contact me with each essay req’t and we would discuss ideas to put forth in the bubble sheet that I posted earlier. If some sources are needed, then those could also be discusses. Then with the bubble sheet complete, he should be able to write the essay. </p>
<p><a href=“http://www.jp2falcons.org/homework/pepper/Bubble_Sheet--Blank_Form.pdf[/url]”>http://www.jp2falcons.org/homework/pepper/Bubble_Sheet--Blank_Form.pdf</a></p>
<p>I know some won’t agree with me, but I think it’s important that your son get thru this first semester with good grades for confidence and scholarship reasons. Therefore, if it takes a little “parent help” for the immediate success, then that’s what’s needed. I’m not suggesting anything more than simple assistance. I’m not suggesting that a parent write the essay or anything.</p>
<p>ILoveLA had a question about how to deal with “the emotional component of writer’s block, including perfectionism.” My son was/is such a perfectionist, and here’s an idea that worked for us.</p>
<p>He was in 6th grade and would sit in front of a blank computer screen for many hours without writing a word – writing 3 paragraphs would take all weekend and cause him lots of pain. Finally, I started giving him essay prompts in his free time to try and get him over the hump. I began with the theory of “write what you know.” I asked him to compare and contrast his two favorite video game systems. That failed as much as the more school-like prompts did.</p>
<p>Finally, in frustration, I gave him this prompt: “Which would make a better pet? A parrot or an elephant? Give the pros and cons of each.”</p>
<p>Of course he responded, “That’s not a SERIOUS essay question!” to which I replied: “It’s just as serious as the lame essay prompts you get from school – do you really think your teacher is saving your ideas in some special idea folder for future generations? The prompt is only a tool for you to demonstrate that you can use proper grammar and punctuation and argue your point in an organized fashion with proper transitions.”</p>
<p>That essay prompt was a breakthrough: because the topic was so ridiculous, he didn’t get hung up on making sure every idea was perfect. And later, when he was stuck with a school prompt, I’d just gently remind him: “It’s just another pet elephant question.”</p>
<p>My son is another who falls into this category. I used to try to keep him company during some of his miserable paper-writing all-nighters in high school - he did better with someone in the room - so it is a relief to have him in college! </p>
<p>He’s now a college senior and has gotten considerably better on his own. It helps that he’s at a LAC with no requirements and very understanding professors who have been very kind in giving him extensions. (He’s paralyzed if he has two papers due on the same day.) Unlike in high school, he’s now genuinely interested in all of his courses, so usually feels he has something to say. And he’s learned that he can’t take more than two writing-intensive courses in the same semester.
Once when he apologetically asked a professor for an extension, after having gotten an extension on a previous paper, the professor said - “Don’t worry, I understand how your brain works.” This was a huge relief to him, of course. And his friends know that during exam week, while they manage to balance intense studying with some socializing, he has to go into complete “lockdown” and disappear for the week.</p>
<p>He’s definitely learning some coping strategies for his issues, an important part of his education. I don’t have any advice - I just appreciate the shared experiences and helpful ideas on this thread.</p>