I have always had a problem when writing about my life experiences. Even when given a prompt there was only a fifty percent chance that I would be able to think of anything to write. As you can imagine, this caused Writing 121 to be my least favorite class. Learning about literary devices and discussing in-class readings were not a problem. But when we got to the daily free-write I would stress out. I didn’t have this problem with my other classes. When in IB Physics or IB History, I can get to work almost immediately, but that is because they include evidence and provable facts. When I try to write, it usually takes me at least a half-hour to think of something. One day in writing, however, was much different.

The prompt that I was given was, “Describe an important dialogue you remember and what was important about it.” Once again, I couldn’t think of anything that anyone had said to me that could be considered important enough to write. 8:00 AM. I looked around the table for any kind of inspiration. Describe a dialogue that was important? How was I supposed to do that when I never did anything outside of school?  My frustration mounted as other students’ pencils were busily scribbling away. I shook my head a little in an attempt to refocus. I checked the clock. 8:05 AM. I noticed the teacher walking towards my table. As she approached I could feel my internal temperature rise a few degrees. I just hoped I didn’t look as embarrassed as I felt.

When she first got to me she started with a neutral question. “Having trouble getting started?”

Trying to get her to move to someone else as quickly as possible, I answered her questions with simple noes. I hoped that my table of friends wasn't judging me too much as she lingered in that awkward half bent-over/ half-squatting stance that anyone that has gone to school knows. Then, by some miracle, she said something that I could write about.

“Do you play any sports? Has a coach or player said anything to you recently?”

At this point, nobody else was talking in the class and I, still feeling self-conscious, responded with “Yeah, I know what I could write,” and a little smile. As she started to stand I felt like all the stress from before had gone away. Just ten or fifteen seconds was all it took for me to figure out a good writing topic instead of the half an hour that it usually took.

I know I won’t be able to talk through a prompt with someone every time. Instead, I could try creating a dialogue in my head where someone is asking me questions rather than trying to force a thought by reading the prompt over and over. With practice and time, I could get around my problem with writer's block.