This is a great little list of things to do when your brain fails you.

I've lately found a hard time writing linearly - the way that I used to write all the time in school, back before I used computers. Now, I find myself working nonlinearly more than ever. While this is good for creativity, its bad for structure and raises new barriers to getting started and getting finsihed. Lately, I've found decent success writing using the snowflake methodology.

You begin writing anywhere you want - that is, for any supporting argument, premise, conclusion, recommendation, whatever. Write just a sentence or two, though, that captures the essence of the thought. Then, move on to the next element. Write the essence, and no more. Do this a few times. Then go back and write a supporting sentence, second point, or whatever that relates to the first item you wrote about. Repeat with the second.

This isn't making sense. Read it about here from someone who's put more effort into organizing how it works. It's pretty liberating.