Overcoming a Blank Page: How to Build Healthy Writing Habits?
Is there anything more daunting than beginning a new writing project and staring at a blank page for days or even weeks? This common challenge often feels overwhelming, but there are strategies to overcome it. Scientific writing can be especially demanding. Crafting a journal article requires simplifying complex scientific concepts, detailed methodologies, and analyses into a concise, word-limited manuscript (Silvia 2019)[1]. Additionally, the process often demands adherence to specific academic phrasing and impersonal tone, which can make the task even more intimidating. This article aims to provide practical strategies to navigate these challenges. It also shares insights and experiences from researchers at various career stages to offer diverse perspectives on improving the writing process.
Procrastination: an enemy of productivity
Merriam-Webster dictionary defines procrastination as “to put off intentionally the doing of something that should be done.” Research shows that 20–25% of adults procrastinate (Ferrari and Díaz-Morales 2014)[2], and this figure rises to 70% among college students (Klingsieck et al. 2013)[3]. Scientific writing is particularly prone to this “task aversion.” While scientists excel at focusing on tasks like microscopy or cloning experiments, writing often feels different. The volume of work and the challenge of articulating complex analyses can be overwhelming. To overcome this, it is essential to abandon perfectionism from the start. A first draft will never be perfect, and aiming for perfection initially is counterproductive. The following sections further offer actionable steps to combat procrastination and improve productivity.
Set clear and achievable goals
The overwhelming scope of writing a journal article or dissertation can lead to mental blocks. To avoid this, break the task into smaller, manageable steps. Start with a simple outline sometimes, pen and paper are enough to clarify your ideas. Focus on achievable goals, such as writing 200 words daily, rather than waiting for long stretches of time to complete an entire chapter or manuscript. Use progress-tracking tools like Excel or Asana to stay organized. Celebrate milestones along the way—the sense of accomplishment can be incredibly motivating, no matter how you choose to celebrate.
Create a Writing Routine
While last-minute pressure might seem productive, the key to sustainable writing is establishing a routine. This prevents the cycle of prolonged inactivity followed by frantic, high-stress writing sessions. Even brief, consistent writing periods can significantly boost productivity (Peterson et al. 2018)[4]. Identify your optimal writing time—morning or evening—and set a reminder, such as a calendar alert. Scientists often wait extended free periods such as summer holidays or long weekends to write, sacrificing their personal lives. Instead, schedule dedicated writing sessions and stick to them (Silvia 2019). A consistent routine fosters progress without unnecessary stress.
Create a productive environment
Set up a dedicated, distraction-free writing space. Silence notifications, mute your phone, and disconnect from the internet to avoid interruptions like emails. Everyone’s ideal environment varies. Some thrive in the quiet of a library, while others prefer the background buzz of a café. Find what works best for you to maintain focus and productivity.
Allow yourself to write poorly…in the beginning
Comparing a rough draft to a polished, published article is unproductive. Early drafts are meant to be imperfect, and writing is a skill developed through practice. Embrace short, unpolished sentences in your first draft, they are a necessary starting point. Aiming for perfection immediately is unrealistic and counterproductive. Simply getting ideas onto the page will drive the writing process forward. The editing comes after the first draft is generated.
Build accountability and community
Sharing your writing schedule or outline with a supervisor or colleague can help keep you accountable. Seeking mentorship for constructive feedback ensures progress. Writing groups offer additional benefits, as research shows they foster mutual feedback and improve critical review skills (Maher et al. 2008)[5]. Group settings also provide motivation through scheduled meetings and positive peer pressure.
AI tools in writing and their ethical use
It would be impossible to discuss writing without considering available generative AI tools. AI can help outline projects, refine ideas, and jumpstart writing. Another thing to consider is that the language of science is predominantly English (Ciaccio 2023)[6], however majority of scientists are not native English speakers, who might struggle keeping up with the native speakers (Amano et al. 2023) [7]. In these cases, AI tools can assist non-native speakers in improving text quality. However, it’s important to use AI ethically: it should aid in editing or generating ideas, not replace original writing or simply paraphrase existing research.
Voices of Experience
We spoke to an early career and a senior researcher on how they approach the blank page and foster consistent writing habits. Their perspectives highlight that no matter the discipline, writing is a skill built with practice and intention.
Insights from an early career researcher: Vanessa Polet Carrillo Carrasco PhD
Vanessa Polet Carrillo Carrasco PhD, is a recent graduate of Wageningen University, Netherlands.
How Vanessa balances writing with other responsibilities:
“I generally create six-month plans that contemplate my commitments, including lab work, writing, teaching, and other responsibilities. While I try to stick to the plan, I know that it is not written in stone and I remain flexible, adjusting as needed to prioritize areas that require more time and attention at any given moment.”
What is her biggest challenge:
“My biggest challenge is getting started. To overcome this, I set my own deadlines and share them with my supervisor or colleagues. Knowing that others are ‘counting’ on me creates a sense of accountability and motivates me to stay on track.”
What is her go-to strategy when staring at a blank page?
“I begin by outlining the main structure of the document, starting simple and focusing on the core sections. For example, identifying the key results to highlight. From there, I build on the details by adding figures, relevant literature, and important discussion points. Once I have a solid outline, I share it with my mentor to ensure alignment before diving into the full writing process. This collaborative approach helps me feel confident and provides a clear roadmap to get started.”
Advice to others:
“I believe that everyone has to find their own ‘best approach’, but one strategy that helped me is outlining the contents of a manuscript and discussing it with a mentor or colleague. This outline is a sort of roadmap that helps to define the storyline and gives me clarity on the next steps, such as determining whether additional experiments, analyses, or figures are needed.”
A PI’s Perspective: Jan Petrášek PhD
Jan Petrášek PhD, is a principal investigator (PI) at the Laboratory of Hormonal Regulations, Institute of Experimental Botany, Prague, Czech Republic.
How has Jan’s writing process evolved throughout his career:
“My writing process has evolved primarily in terms of language proficiency. As a non-native English speaker, my fluency in the language has improved significantly over the years. This advancement has enabled me to articulate my ideas more quickly and effectively.”
What role does writing play in his daily routine as a PI?
“Writing plays an important, though smaller than desired, role in my daily routine as a PI. On average, I aim to dedicate 1-2 hours each day to uninterrupted scientific writing, editing, or reviewing others’ texts. However, when working on a draft or finalizing a manuscript, I often need to set aside several consecutive days for extended writing sessions to complete the task.”
How does Jan mentor his students to develop strong writing skills?
“I mentor my students in developing strong writing skills by showing them examples. I share well-written, clear papers with them and guide them through analyzing the strengths of these works. Similarly, I present examples of less effective writing, such as overly long sentences, repetitive text, or a lack of clear messaging. I consistently emphasize the importance of focusing on the main message and structuring the manuscript around it.”
Tools and habits he uses to stay productive when writing under pressure:
“I find AI assistants incredibly helpful for refining style and rephrasing text, though it’s essential to review the output carefully. As for habits, I recommend starting early in the day when the mind is fresh. The first 2-3 hours of focused, concentrated work are the most productive. Prioritizing and tackling the hardest tasks first is also key to staying efficient under pressure.”
Conclusion
Writing is a crucial part of scientific work. Not only does it allow us to graduate or publish our findings, but it helps refine scientific ideas and shape research direction. Prolific writers agree that consistency is more important over intensity in your writing. Start with small steps such as outlining your work and build momentum. If you are struggling with writing you can take a moment to reflect on your writing habits and make one small change, even today.
References
Silvia PJ (2019) How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing, 2nd edn. American Psychological Association
Ferrari J, Díaz-Morales J (2014) Procrastination and mental health coping: A brief report related to students. Individual Differences Research 12
Klingsieck KB, Grund A, Schmid S, Fries S (2013) Why Students Procrastinate: A Qualitative Approach. Journal of College Student Development 54(4):397–412
Peterson TC, Kleppner SR, Botham CM (2018) Ten simple rules for scientists: Improving your writing productivity. PLoS Comput Biol 14(10):e1006379. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006379
Maher D, Seaton L, McMullen C, Fitzgerald T, Otsuji E, Lee A (2008) ‘Becoming and being writers’: the experiences of doctoral students in writing groups. Studies in Continuing Education 30(3):263–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/01580370802439870
Ciaccio EJ (2023) Use of artificial intelligence in scientific paper writing. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked 41:101253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2023.101253
Amano T, Ramírez-Castañeda V, Berdejo-Espinola V, Borokini I, Chowdhury S, Golivets M, González-Trujillo JD, Montaño-Centellas F, Paudel K, White RL, Veríssimo D (2023) The manifold costs of being a non-native English speaker in science. PLOS Biology 21(7):e3002184. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002184
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About the Author
Katarina Kurtović
Katarina is a final-year PhD student at Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic and a 2025 Plantae Fellows. Her research focuses on the evolution of phytohormone auxin transport and response in algal relatives of land plants. When not in the lab, she teaches yoga, goes on hikes, plays with her cat, and visits Croatia where she is from. X: @kat_kurtovic
