You have a major paper due tomorrow and you've successfully managed to put it off for all this time. You sit down around ten-thirty at night in front of your computer, open up a blank document and... nothing. The pressure is on and your brain is as empty as the computer screen. Relax and take a deep breath. Here are eleven tips for avoiding and getting over the dreaded syndrome known as writer's block. Why eleven, you ask? Because anyone can come up with ten, that's why.

1.) Write Anyway.

Even if you don't think you can come up with anything decent, just start writing. Eventually the creative juices will start flowing. Plus, you can always erase or rewrite what you started with once you are in the zone.

2.)Find a Topic You Care About.

Generally teachers will try to avoid assigning you an incredibly specific topic to research and write about. More likely they will give you a broader subject and allow you to pick your topic. Find something you care about because it makes doing the research and writing more interesting and entertaining. Hate American History but love sports? Try a paper on games and pastimes in the days of the Pilgrims. Hey, it may not win a Pulitzer, but we're just trying to get a good grade.

3.)Look Around

Your sitting at your computer, I presume. Well look around, is it comfortable? Or do you feel as if you are sitting in an institution? Try covering up those stark walls with a few pictures of friends and family or try replacing your lightbulbs with a lower wattage. You'll still be able to see, but not feel as if your walking in a hospital waiting room. Alternatively, if your work space feels like a cozy cave, try straightening up a little bit. No one can work in where they have to struggle to find a place to sit.

4.)It's a Job, Not an Artform.

Stephen King, the hero of all writers, manages to crank out a classic book on an unbelievable schedule. He compares searching your brain for topics to going through a toolbox. He recommends thinking of building sentences as a construction worker thinks of building houses. When you stop trying to be so artsy, the words will flow a little more naturally.

5.)Schedule, schedule, schedule

Set a time to work. Stick to it. The brain will subconciously know that the time to write is drawing closer and start forming ideas that you don't even know are going on. Then, when you sit down to work, you will find that things come much easier.

6.)You Don't Have To Start in the Beginning.

You have a great idea of what to write, but it seems like it should go in the middle of the page. Write it anyway! You might find inspiration to begin, or at least knock out a part of the writing to come back to the beginning later. Often times, too, it is a lot easier to write an opening paragraph or page when you already know what the rest of the paper is going to say.

7.) Make an Outline Before You Start

Write down everything you want to say before you say it. Set a general order of where you think you want everything to go. It doesn't have to be written in stone, but when you get lost or distracted, it is much easier to look back and see where the thoughts are supposed to be leading.

8.) Say Something

When you write, you have a voice. Use it! Writing just to write is great, but when you are trying to persuade someone, show off something, explain how fabulous or horrible something is, or capture a reader's imagination words flow much quicker if it is something you can find or at least feign a passion for. Don't write just to write, write as if you are doing a service for your audience.

9.) Start Talking

Give your best friend a call. If you feel like it, talk about what you are trying to write. If not, just talk. When you start talking, your mind opens up and the creative juices start flowing. A ten minute chat and you should be good to go. Don't stay on the phone too long, though, or it'll turn into another form of procrastination! Once you start getting chatty, hang up and start typing!

10.) Read Something Your Proud Of.

Even if you aren't the best author in the world, somewhere on your hard drive you have stored a piece of work you are proud of. You aced it and worked really hard. Read it, out loud if you have to. It will put you in the mindframe you were in when you put in all the effort to nail that good grade and remind you how good it feels to do good on a project.

11.)Forget Grammar.

For now. Right now it isn't vital to have perfect punctuation and flawless spelling. Worry about that once you get done. For the moment, just write. Don't stop the flow of words trying to figure out if their should be a comma or not. Just make sure you spell check and reread everything a few times once you are done writing.