Beginning to write and then immediately deciding you’re hungry or need a coffee.

If you find that you are not really sure what the assignment is asking, you may be tempted to put off working on it. This trigger can occur at any phase of the writing process but is particularly likely at the very beginning when you find you don’t know where to start. There are many productive alternatives to putting the assignment aside or spending vast amounts of time puzzling over it. Consult the Understanding the Assignment module for recommendations.

Ask for Help

When you really don’t know how to proceed, ask for help. Talk to your instructor and seek clarification on the requirements of the assignment. The Library, Writing Centre and Learning Skills Services are also there to help you figure out how to get started on an assignment or how to proceed on other aspects of the writing process.

Review Procrastination Solutions located under Resources.