The art of finishing (and publishing) research projects
This slide is from a presentation delivered last year by Professor Maria Raciti at the UniSC Research Conference.
As so many academics I’ve had many (many!) publications in the pipeline to be (just) finished. The main challenge is when they really just depend on me and no one is waiting for feedback or relying on it to carry on with their life plans – like when my PhD students need me to read their work, for example.
Read more…‘ENOUGH’- The importance of limit-setting for writing
“(…) limit-setting means learning to . . .
1. Start writing before you may feel you’re ready.
2. Finish writing before you may feel you’re ready.
3. Know when you’ve done enough with your writing project.
Knowing when you’ve done enough or that you can begin without over-preparation is a critical skill in writing efficiently and painlessly. Without this kind of knowing, writing problems loom at the ready. Without limit-setting, professors expose themselves to an especially insidious kind of stress–of never being able to leave campus feeling they’ve done enough.”
Book recommendation: ‘Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing’, by Robert Boice
Professors as Writers: A Self-Help Guide to Productive Writing by Robert Boice
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Teachers or writers who await mood and inspiration before beginning court trouble. Conversely, writers and teachers who create mood and inspiration by performing on demand tend to prosper.” Read more…
The power of writing at least 15mins EVERY.SINGLE.DAY
Newton’s first law of motion (inertia) seems to apply to the non-physical world, too: It takes more energy to get a stopped project started than to keep a project moving.
Book recommendation: ‘Finding Time for your Scholarly Writing: A Short Guide’, by Jo VanEvery
Finding Time for your Scholarly Writing: A Short Guide by Jo VanEvery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“[Day] is my research day. I will address your email during normal working hours on [next working day]. Thank you for your patience.” (Kindle Locations 247-248) Read more…
Writing as a tool for thinking
Don’t allow your gremlins to tell you that you should be able to do this [writing] in your head and only commit your ideas to paper when they are clear. Use writing to think.
Book recommendation: ‘The Scholarly Writing Process: A Short Guide’, by Jo VanEvery
The Scholarly Writing Process: A Short Guide by Jo VanEvery
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
“Writing is a process through which you create knowledge. AND Writing is a product that communicates knowledge.” (Kindle Locations 39-42) Read more…
For the protection of closed doors and against open plan academic offices
The main thing that all writers need, Stephen King says in On Writing, is “a door that you are willing to shut.” The door (if we use it) protects us from interruptions. A space where we are protected from interruption is crucial for any writing project.
Book recommendation: ‘Write No Matter What: Advice for Academics’, by Joli Jensen
Write No Matter What: Advice for Academics by Joli Jensen
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
“In order to be productive we need frequent, low-stress contact with a writing project we enjoy.” Read more…
#15minacwri – Embracing the writing challenge
I have had a system of tracking my writing for years… Many years. Some times I felt like I didn’t need it anymore, and tried to stop using it, but then realised without it I don’t produce much… Actually I produce almost nothing. Read more…
SILVIA TAVARES 