10 Excellent Ways to Be a More Productive Scientific Writer
Writing is a vital part of your career as a researcher. It forms an important bridge that connects your ideas to your reader. Even if you use the most innovative tools and approaches, the effectiveness of your writing can make or break your ability to secure funding, publish your findings, and advance your career.
In addition to sharing your knowledge, writing can improve your thinking and productivity. It can help you to reflect on your work, nurture your ideas, and maintain your focus. It can even help you to organize your thoughts and see the implications of your work.
But despite these benefits, and the best of intentions, we still postpone writing. Maybe writing is challenging for us. Maybe we are waiting for that next piece of data. Maybe we are simply procrastinators by nature.
Do you want to be a more efficient writer? Here are 10 ways to improve your writing productivity.
1. Dedicate protected time
One of the best ways to become a more efficient—and better—writer is to write regularly. Daily if you can. Set aside protected time when you are less likely to get distracted, such as during office hours, or feel less motivated, such as right before bed. If you need to, block out this time on your calendar, add it to your daily to-do list, or set a reminder on your phone or computer. At first, you may find it difficult to adjust to the change in your schedule. But over time, your writing session will become a routine part of your day or week.
2. Create the right environment
What are your biggest distractions while writing? Can you write in a coffee shop, or do you need a quiet office? Are you easily distracted by instant messages or the constant urge to check your emails? Identify what you need to focus on writing. If you need silence and solitude, find a quiet office or library to work in. Turn off notifications for messages on your computer and phone. If you need to, turn off your phone entirely or disconnect your computer from the Internet. Every minor interruption disrupts your thinking and eats up your time for writing.
3. Write first, then edit
During your designated time, focus on writing. At first, your focus should be on content. Write anything that comes to mind. Do not worry about grammar, spelling, or flow. While you may struggle to ignore your inner editor or perfectionist, remind yourself that you will refine the text later. After you finish writing your first draft, your focus can shift to editing the text.
4. Work SMARTly
You may benefit from creating a writing calendar. But be reasonable in what goals you can accomplish during each of your writing sessions. A great way to think about these goals is to consider the SMART criteria: specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. What defined task do you want to accomplish (specific)? How will you know when you have accomplished that task (measurable)? How realistic is this task given the resources you have available (achievable)? Will this task help you accomplish the larger goal (relevant)? Can you accomplish this task in the time you have allotted for your writing session (time-bound)?
5. Hold yourself accountable
How can you ensure that you stick to your writing commitment? Reward yourself. Even small rewards can be motivating. After finishing a writing session, treat yourself to a cookie, a cup of tea, or the cat video your colleague told you about. You can also partner up with a writing buddy. You could find a quiet place to write together during your dedicated time, or you could just send them a quick message to let them know you are starting or stopping.
6. Seek constructive feedback
After your draft is more refined, use your writing time to seek feedback from others. Get feedback from people with different backgrounds. Your research colleagues can help you identify gaps in logic, while your students can help you clarify your ideas. Remember to appreciate their time. Send them your draft well ahead of time. Share where you are in the writing process and what you would like them to focus on. For example, you may ask whether your logic is clear or if your writing is riddled with typos. And remember to return the favor should they ask for help from you.
7. Learn new skills
Language constantly evolves. And we can all improve as writers. Seek out opportunities to learn about writing. Take a class on rhetoric. Attend a workshop on how to write a manuscript or grant. Read a classic book on writing, such as The Elements of Style or On Writing Well. Get certified as a scientific writer. There are many ways that you can learn and work to improve your writing.
8. Read relentlessly
Reading is a great way to learn new writing skills, which will help you write more clearly and efficiently. You will benefit from reading other scientific articles, but you will benefit even more from reading a variety of writing. Read books, magazines, and blogs. As you read, think critically about the author’s writing. What do you like? In what ways do you think they could have improved? Make note of these critiques so that you can think about them while you are writing.
9. Manage your mindset
Negative thinking can be detrimental to your writing. Be mindful of your thoughts about writing. Make a conscious effort to coach yourself and redirect disheartening messages. For example, instead of thinking “I don’t have enough time to write an article,” think “I am going to write the first paragraph during my one-hour writing session.”
10. Review your practice
Your writing practice will ebb and flow. All writers must overcome writer’s block or writing resistance at some time or another. Every few weeks, reflect on your sessions and think about how you might need to tweak them. Do you find that students asking questions after class encroaches on your writing session? Move your session to 30 minutes later. Are you distracted by your labmates chatting over coffee? Check out the library or ask a colleague if you can use their office while they are in a meeting.
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