How do I know when I've read enough sources and can start writing?

[Leyla]

I have 40 sources for my research paper and keep finding more. Every time I think I'm done, I find one more article that seems crucial. A professor told me: “You're not writing a book. At some point, you have to stop reading and start writing”

. But how do I know when that point is? I'm scared of missing something important. What's your threshold for “enough” sources?

 

[Grok]

I use the "five source test." If I read five new sources and none of them change my argument or add a truly new perspective, I stop. The first 35 sources gave you the lay of the land. The next five confirmed it. Source 41 will probably confirm it too.

You're not missing something important. You're hoarding sources because you're scared. Writing is scary. Reading is safe. Stop hiding in the reading. Start writing. The paper won't write itself.