Read on Twitter
Just discovered this blog post on #AcademicWriting (Dec 2019): “10 counter-intuitive insights”. It resonated a lot with me, so here is a thread to begin this week with a few ideas! @AcademicChatter #AcademicChatter https://bit.ly/2TtJpH7
1. Productivity is personal (and your colleagues and supervisors might be wrong)
OMG yes, yes, yes! People giving you advice usually have the best intentions, but when it comes to writing, you really have to find your own way. https://icietla.hypotheses.org/1561
OMG yes, yes, yes! People giving you advice usually have the best intentions, but when it comes to writing, you really have to find your own way. https://icietla.hypotheses.org/1561
2. Lots of writing time doesn’t lead to lots of writing
and, related:
3. Writing less is one of the best things you can do for your productivity
While I do not necessarily agree on the “try using constraints” (2 paragraphs per day/bursts of 25 minutes), I do strongly believe...
and, related:
3. Writing less is one of the best things you can do for your productivity
While I do not necessarily agree on the “try using constraints” (2 paragraphs per day/bursts of 25 minutes), I do strongly believe...
... that allowing (long) breaks is NOT procrastination, but only if you can see the difference, for you, between “I'm avoiding writing” and “I need a break from writing” to allow my brain to focus on something else before coming back. https://icietla.hypotheses.org/1559
4. Doing ‘more research’ isn’t always conducive to your success
> It is different not to write because you know you that need more time, or more readings, or not to write because you think what you have to say is less important than what others have already said or will ever say.
> It is different not to write because you know you that need more time, or more readings, or not to write because you think what you have to say is less important than what others have already said or will ever say.
5. Accept that your writing practice will change over time
Ha! And—now comes the scary part—it may change over time. So, more specifically, you have to find what works for you at a given time.
(I think I'll write more on this soon—is the topic of interest to you?)
Ha! And—now comes the scary part—it may change over time. So, more specifically, you have to find what works for you at a given time.
(I think I'll write more on this soon—is the topic of interest to you?)
6. Done is always better than perfect
I didn't write anything on this one, but well, that's true
Also: I do find that some ideas get clearer when I've submitted a paper, get rejected, get over it, and rewrite it a few weeks later—because I want to get it right 
I didn't write anything on this one, but well, that's true
Also: I do find that some ideas get clearer when I've submitted a paper, get rejected, get over it, and rewrite it a few weeks later—because I want to get it right
7. Embrace potholes
It felt weird at first, but I keep coming back to writing about how a writing project makes me feel. Why?
Thanks to @cathymazak's amazing podcast, I understood that I have indeed a “writing system”, which she defines as...
It felt weird at first, but I keep coming back to writing about how a writing project makes me feel. Why?
Thanks to @cathymazak's amazing podcast, I understood that I have indeed a “writing system”, which she defines as...
... “a set of practices, rooted in a value system about writing, that is employed strategically to help you meet your goals”. By that, she does NOT mean "write 30 minutes a day" or so, but:
***find a (YOUR) way to come back to your writing when you've lost the connection***
***find a (YOUR) way to come back to your writing when you've lost the connection***
For me, it is usually by moving my writing practice to other platforms, and by writing about writing that I reconnect to it.
Consider academic writing as one of the many forms writing can take. We *do* write, every day: SMS, emails, to-do-lists, etc. https://bit.ly/2HBQ9jy
Consider academic writing as one of the many forms writing can take. We *do* write, every day: SMS, emails, to-do-lists, etc. https://bit.ly/2HBQ9jy
8. When you really want to keep writing – stop
I don't agree with this one, not because it is bad per se, but because once again, you're the only one who can know whether you should keep going when you feel inspired, or if you should keep that excitement for tomorrow—and WHY.
I don't agree with this one, not because it is bad per se, but because once again, you're the only one who can know whether you should keep going when you feel inspired, or if you should keep that excitement for tomorrow—and WHY.
9. Dedicate less time to writing (and more to reflection)
Very true for me! (I'm experiencing one of the most creative phases of my life since I've accepted that writing comes and goes, and that a lot happens in the background without me knowing it) https://twitter.com/BerLinguistin/status/1317750575556153344?s=20
Very true for me! (I'm experiencing one of the most creative phases of my life since I've accepted that writing comes and goes, and that a lot happens in the background without me knowing it) https://twitter.com/BerLinguistin/status/1317750575556153344?s=20
10. Writing can make you happy
it can, really
but, well...
not writing as well, by the way
I want us to feel valued & heard even when we cannot write, I want us to find ways to say what we have to say in any form that works for us, & I want us to feel empowered & creative...
it can, really
but, well...
not writing as well, by the way
I want us to feel valued & heard even when we cannot write, I want us to find ways to say what we have to say in any form that works for us, & I want us to feel empowered & creative...
... when we write and don’t write.
In another series of blog posts (in preparation), I'll share more of how my writing practice looks like when everything feels easy, when it doesn't, and what I've learnt from it. If you want me to address specific points, feel free!
In another series of blog posts (in preparation), I'll share more of how my writing practice looks like when everything feels easy, when it doesn't, and what I've learnt from it. If you want me to address specific points, feel free!
On writing for students, I've also developed resources over the year to encourage them to begin with their term papers DURING the semester. Here a summary, and Open Educational Resources on their way as soon as I get to revise my materials! #TwitterCampus https://twitter.com/BerLinguistin/status/1320284311002750976?s=20
(If you want to read more, here a thread full of GIFs on why it’s okay not to write every day, to pay attention to the aesthetics of your document, etc., as well as the related blog posts and a downloadable 20-page material as a PDF.) Feedback welcome! https://twitter.com/berlinguistin/status/1315739404485394434
And just in case it wasn’t clear, the numbers are the phrasing from the original blog post ( https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2019/10/18/10-counter-intuitive-insights-from-an-academic-writing-coach/) and everything below is from me, reformulating, adding, and sometimes disagreeing ( https://icietla.hypotheses.org/academic-writing) 
