Writer’s block is a common challenge students face. Staring at a blank page, unsure where to begin, and feeling pressure to produce a stellar piece on the first try can make anyone discouraged about writing. TCC is helping students move past this barrier using an approach grounded in simplicity.
It started during COVID when Douglas Price, Ed.D., Director of Faculty Development and Global Learning, took a TCC writing course and committed to a 15-minute daily continuous writing practice. He discovered that consistent, uninterrupted writing reduces anxiety and unlocks ideas. Using “free writing” or the “Apple Method,” this practice is based on a simple psychological principle: thoughts trigger thoughts.
“Students begin by writing a repeated word such as ‘apple’ to maintain motion on the page, which quiets anxiety and bypasses the inner critic,” says Price. “Gradually, students shift to capturing their thoughts and then apply the method to a general topic. The focus is not graded or shared, which limits anxiety and builds confidence, flow, and self-efficacy in writing.”
Price shared the method with Amy Rains, Assistant Professor of English, who affirmed the approach and its alignment with established writing pedagogy. The method was piloted in English classes as a workshop led by Price. Students reported reduced writing anxiety, improved confidence, and better performance across disciplines, including exams and workplace-style writing tasks.
At the suggestion of colleagues, Price and Rains submitted a proposal to the Oklahoma DaVinci Institute, and they were awarded the 2024 DaVinci Creativity in Education Fellows award.
“We decided to enlist help from the TCC Foundation to launch the DaVinci Peer Scholars Program, knowing students enjoy help from their peers,” says Price. “The Foundation believed in our vision, and we were able to bring it to life.”
Students who have completed continuous writing workshops may apply to become DaVinci Peer Scholars. Those selected serve as advocates during workshops, share their experiences with classmates, and continue developing their own writing through structured prompts and reflections.
“Students see someone just a year or two ahead of them modeling the messy, nonlinear thinking that leads to strong writing, and that demystifies the process in ways my instruction alone cannot,” says Rains.
The program has expanded from a pilot phase to a more competitive selection process. Five students are currently participating as DaVinci Peer Scholars, receiving a $400 stipend from the TCC Foundation.
“When students are freed from the pressure to ‘get it right’ on the first try, they seem to be more willing to take intellectual risks; that’s really where the magic happens,” adds Rains.
Student experiences
Adam Medina, a Pre-Nursing student says, “As a DaVinci Scholar, I became confident in writing through consistent practice because of my introduction to the ‘Apple Method’ by Dr. Price, which made writing accessible and effortless.”
Ariana Hadley, a Psychology major, says the process changed her mindset. “This experience has made me able to sit down and actually write without stopping. It also made me enjoy writing more since I had more of a base to work from in my writing.”
Joselyn Flores, a Pre-nursing major, says, “Practicing continuous writing allowed me to notice that I had adapted to a pattern of writing down all my thoughts and tasks that I needed to complete. It is the easiest approach when writer’s block is present, helping me create a foundation for any writing assignment or task.”
The DaVinci Peer Scholars Program continues to grow as more students experience the benefits of continuous writing. With dedicated leadership and peer support at its core, the initiative is helping students write with greater confidence and clarity.