TABLE 1.

Tips for overcoming obstacles to writing

No time	Go ahead; schedule writing appointments with yourself – call them a conference call with yourself.
No pressure	Book meetings with your writing buddy and your personal editor – set yourself deadlines.
Too hard, too scary	Literature searches and statistics can be intimidating, but medical librarians and statisticians can help.
Need encouragement	Talk about your writing with colleagues. This ensures that you will be asked questions about your progress and receive encouragement to go on.
Need self-discipline	Set yourself deadlines and give yourself rewards when you meet them.
Task too big	Start small (eg, a case report).
Cannot write	Try dictating your ideas and then reshaping them into text.
No topic or idea for a paper	Your writing buddy and your personal editor can help by reviewing your ‘ideas file’ with you. Remember, it is easiest to write about something that you are passionate about.