By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Some years ago, while I was checking my emails, I came across a message from my advisor. As soon as I opened it, I wished I hadn’t. The email contained feedback on my dissertation proposal, and she asked me to rewrite the entire document. Since I only had a few weeks to complete it, I felt overwhelmed, stuck, and lost. Many writers have likely gone through a similar experience situation when working on a project. If that resonates with you, read on.

Recently, I read Bold: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power by Luana Marquez—a book I wish I had come across while working on my dissertation. Marquez encourages you to examine your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors when you feel stuck and want to avoid certain tasks. She points out that understanding what you are telling yourself influences your feelings and actions. This awareness can help you identify the problem that is causing you to feel stuck. As a writer, you can apply this insight to your own writing challenges.

Once you identify what makes you feel stuck, you should seek solutions. Marquez provides a three-step process to guide you in overcoming these obstacles. Here are the three main steps, their purpose, and some guiding questions to help you apply them.

1. Shift

Purpose: To change your perspective on the situation.

Guiding questions: Is there a different way to see the situation? What would I say to my best friend in this situation?

2. Approach

Purpose: To create a plan to move you toward getting unstuck.

Guiding questions: What do I usually do to avoid the situation? What can I do instead?

3. Align

Purpose: To identify your personal values and align them with your actions.

Guiding questions: What matters most to me? Based on my values, what specific actions can I take?

By following these steps, you engage in mindful reflection that not only helps you get unstuck but also fosters a more productive writing mindset.

If you want to learn more about applying this approach as a writer, I invite you to attend the upcoming session at the TAA conference:

• Title: Getting Unstuck: A Strategy to Increase Progress with Your Writing
• Date: 6/7/2025
• Time: 12:30 – 1:30 pm ET

Reference

Marques, L. (2023). Bold: A 3-Step Plan to Transform Anxiety into Power. Harper One.

---

Angelica Ribeiro is a writer, researcher, and professor. She is the author of How to Create Happiness at Work, Running into Happiness, and My Happiness Habit Journal. She holds a Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction with a focus on English as a second language from Texas A&M University. She has taught English learners and preservice teachers in the United States and Brazil for over 25 years. Angelica has several publications on second language acquisition. She works as a professor in higher education and helps others benefit from her happiness research. When she was a Ph.D. student, Angelica struggled with balancing her academic commitments and personal life, which motivated her to embark on a journey to increase happiness. Her journey was so successful that now she encourages others to create happiness in their busy lives by sharing science-based strategies. Visit https://www.creatinghappiness.today