The document provides 10 strategies for starting an essay when feeling stuck or blocked. It recommends making a list of essential topics, ideas, and key points related to the subject to help generate a basic plan and structure for the essay. Creating a mind map by writing the topic in the center of a page and radiating ideas outward allows visualizing relationships between concepts. Speaking ideas aloud can also help get ideas flowing. Cross-examining the essay question word-by-word to fully understand what is being asked is another technique to help start writing.