This piece contains a collection of notes related to “how” we write. It’s broken down into a series of useful hints. Although only eight tips are devoted to these concepts, they have the ability to significantly improve the quality and quantity of your writing production when taken together.
- The Importance of Planning
Experienced authors, according to research, plan extensively. Initially, planning may entail just creating concepts and conceptually examining their relationships, as shown in the picture to the right. A chapter outline for the thesis or dissertation will be required at a later stage in the planning process. As you work on your research, this will get more detailed. A writing strategy should be viewed as a road map. You’ll most likely get lost or go in circles if you don’t have a map.
- Getting started
Many writers experience “writers’ block,” which makes it difficult for them to get started. One approach to overcoming this is to set aside a short amount of time (say four minutes) and write down whatever comes to mind regarding the issue without stopping. The most important thing is to keep writing, or typing if you’re using a keyboard. Don’t worry about the spelling or the grammar – just keep writing. You’ll be shocked at how much text you’ll generate and how many ideas you’ll come up with in such a short period of time. Now you may start organizing the thoughts you’ve generated, making sure they’re expressed in logical, grammatically correct phrases.
- Be consistent
Make a schedule for yourself so that you can write every day. This may seem self-evident, but it is critical to the formation of written language. Every day, set aside some time for writing and try to produce some text. The amount of work you generate will vary, and even if it is only a few paragraphs, it may only be a first draft. This isn’t a big deal. The main thing is that you incorporate writing into your everyday routine. Simply forcing your body to sit in front of a computer for a set amount of time each day can yield results.
- Keep a notebook
Many thoughts and insights occur to us when we are writing up a large piece of work when we are not actively writing. When we are in a non-focused cognitive state, such as walking, running, or swimming, some of the most profound ideas occur. These thoughts may be lost unless you can capture them as soon as they occur to you. The easiest way to capture these thoughts before they vanish is with a little notebook and a pen. The notebook can become a place where you explore ideas and even begin to define how they will be expressed in written form.
- Recognize the recursive process
Academic writing is not something we can do once and then abandon. It’s a recursive system. This means that writers go back to their original drafts and revise and rewrite them. This procedure is still in progress. In fact, many authors find it difficult to stop enhancing their work, but because time is limited, they aim to get as much done as possible before a deadline. We do know that good authors draft first drafts, revise, work on final drafts, and finally edit their work.
- Take a step back from your writing
Assume the role of a mountain climber. Most climbers can only see a few feet in front of their faces during a climb. They don’t have a clear view of the entire mountain. Other mountains may be seen, but not the one they are climbing. They’ll have to travel a few kilometres to do so. From such a distance, they can observe the way they are preparing and how their intended route travels up the mountain. As a writer, you should consider the following questions: Is there a clear path to the ‘top’? Do all of the minor “steps” go up? Can the minor “steps” be more clearly “carried out”? The most effective way to create a sense of distance with your photography is to use a wide-angle lens.
- Read your own work aloud
Do read it back to yourself, aloud if necessary, and ask yourself: Do I comprehend what I’ve written? Does it come across as natural?
The most effective way to assess this is to read your work aloud. When you do this, if what you’ve written doesn’t seem right, it’s generally because it’s poorly written. Before sending his manuscripts off to be published, a prominent French writer (Gustav Flaubert) used to shout them out. He said that poor writing failed this easy test every time.
- Discuss your writing
Writing is a highly solitary activity, and we rarely discuss it with others. Given that we spend so many hours on this activity, this is pretty unusual. Requesting that someone read some of your work and provide comments may be a really beneficial experience, especially if the feedback is reciprocal and both of you receive constructive critique. It’s important to remember that academic writers frequently receive feedback on their articles from journal editors or publishers who request revisions. You might also explore forming a group of like-minded writers. You can read each other’s work and provide feedback to one another.
