Dissertation writers often need to try different strategies to kickstart their writing, see their work from different angles, or move their writing in different directions. It's not uncommon to find yourself drawing a blank when you think about what you want to say or how your argument holds together, so expanding how you think about writing and anticipating ways to keep your work fresh can be beneficial in the short, medium, and long terms. Listed below are three strategies that can help move your work forward: mind mapping, freewriting, and dictation. Each of these techniques offers a different way to think through your work. Mind mapping can help you organize your thoughts and see the connections between your core ideas, while freewriting helps you generate ideas without judgment, pausing the “critical voices” that can hinder writing progress. Dictation can take place at any stage of the writing process, as it helps you centre your own voice in your writing.
Quick Links
Questions?
The Writing Centre is always available to work through these strategies with you during individual appointments.