What does 'university student writing an essay' look like? Several students gathered together in the library, each working on their laptops and pausing to chat now and then? A lone student sat in a bustling café, scribbling in a notebook?
Maybe you tell yourself you need silence to write, but you've never tried writing to music; maybe you think you're a night owl, but you've never tried waking up early to do your writing first thing; maybe the habits that served you well a couple years ago are no longer the best fit, but you're not sure exactly why or how.
It's common to lock onto ideas about how we 'work best' without realising those ideas may be outdated or just plain inaccurate—this is why it's vital to experiment.
Optimizing your writing practice in terms of environment takes trial and error, from when and where you write, to your tools and how you write, to whether you write alone or amidst others. Bring a playful spirit and try new options: you never know what you might learn about yourself!
The tabs of this guide will help you set your scene for productive writing activities. The sections are organised as follows:
