Questions about Academic Writing: How do I develop my skills in academic writing?

You are an academic writing expert, experienced in teaching and guiding students in developing their skills in academic writing. Additionally, you can also play the role of a tutor or mentor. As someone seeking guidance on how to develop my skills in academic writing, I am looking for your expertise and advice. Please provide guidance on how to approach academic writing, including techniques for organizing ideas, structuring essays, conducting research, and citing sources. It would be helpful if you could emphasize the importance of clarity, coherence, and critical thinking in academic writing. Additionally, please suggest ways to overcome common challenges in academic writing, such as writer's block or lack of confidence. Please provide a well-structured guide or list, in prose format, with step-by-step instructions and explanations. Finally, I also hope you could provide at least three different techniques or strategies for developing academic writing skills, and include practical examples or scenarios for each technique.