How to Write a lot
How to Write a Lot (according to Paul Silvia)
Eric Vanman
Plug for the
Book
Available from APA Books for about $15
for about$15
Confessional Time
Confessional Time
Do you write as much
as you’d like?
Why not?
The point of this talk is not about the quality of your writing, but the quantity.
Ask nearly any academic what they wish had they
more time for (at work): WRITING
more time for(at work):WRITING
But do we really not have the time,or are we just But do we really not have the time, or are we just afraid to admit that writing is HARD?
Paul outlines four “Specious Barriers”
Specious Barrier#1
Specious Barrier #1
?“I can’t find time to write” or“I would write more if I could just find some blocks of if I ld j t fi d bl k f time
time”
This has been elevated to a guiding life This has been elevated to a guiding life theme for some people
According to Silva, however, it’s really a false belief designed to give us comfort
“Finding”the time?
Finding the time?
Do you have to “find the
time” to teach? to tutor?
to eat?
Instead of “finding” the
time, “allot” time to write
But don’t be a binge
writer!
Binge Writing(Kellogg1994)
Binge Writing (Kellogg, 1994)
After intending to write, procrastinating,
and feeling guilty & anxious about writing,
you finally schedule a long day to write
you finally schedule a long day to write
This helps you get a few pages done, but
’ti th l f li
soon you’re repeating the cycle, feeling
anxious & guilty about your writing
Scheduling regular writing avoids help
you this problem
Specious Barrier #2
Specious Barrier#2
?“I need to do some more analyses first,” or “I need to read a few more articles”
“I d t d l fi t”“I d t d f ti l”?Your colleagues will believe you at first, suspecting that you are a perfectionist or an obsessive data analyst
?The truth:Binge writers are usually binge readers and binge statisticians as well.?The solution: use your allotted writing time to also work on these “prewriting” tasks.
Writing actually involves many essential components: lit reviews, stats, tracking down the actual procedures you used, etc.
Specious Barrier #3
Specious Barrier#3
?“To write a lot, I need a new computer,” also “a laser printer,” “a nice chair,” a new office”
?“In order to write, all a man needs is paper and pencil.” (William Saroyan, 1952).
?This barrier is probably more a cheap excuse than a false belief.
p y p
?Having a printer doesn’t produce pages of writing!
?Don’t have high-speed internet at home while you’re writing? Congratulations! (you can always download articles the next time you’re at UQ)
Specious Barrier
#4Specious Barrier #4
(Boice 1990)?“I am waiting until I 4D a y (Boice, 1990)
I am waiting until I feel like it,” or “I 123e P a g e s P e r write best when
I’i i d
t
Abstinent Spontaneous Contingency
Mgmt V a l u I’m inspired to write”6r e a t i v e
write
24y s b e t w e e n C I d e a s Abstinent Spontaneous Contingency
Mgmt
D a
From Silvia(p26):
From Silvia (p.26):
?Struggling writers who “wait for inspiration” should get off their high horse and join the unwashed masses of real academic
g p y,
writers. The ancient Greeks assigned muses for poetry,
music, and tragedy, but they didn’t mention a muse for journal
articles written in APA style. As academics, we’re not creating
high literature. We don t have fans lurking outside the
high literature We don’t have fans lurking outside the
conference hotel hoping for our autographs on recent issues
of PSPB. We do technical, professional writing...Our writing is
important because it’s practical, clear, and idea driven.
The Remedy
The Remedy
Schedule Your Writing Time! (like any other appointment)
Pick times that are most conducive for you (recommended at least 2 hour-blocks)
Defend your writing time
Define and prioritise your writing goals Define and prioritise your writing goals
o to you p og ess(eep a sp eads eet) Monitor your progress (keep a spreadsheet)
The Problems of Scheduling The Problems of Scheduling
The Problems of Scheduling The Problems of Scheduling
Setting Goals
Setting Goals
? 1. Think about your major writing goals(“The Apology Ms.”)
goals (The Apology Ms.)
? 2. Write them down so that you can see them (on a sheet of
paper,Whiteboard)
paper, Whiteboard)
? 3. With major writing goals noted, think about concrete goals for
each day of writing(small,specific
each day of writing (small, specific
goals)
Examples of Concrete Daily
Goals
Write at least 200 words
W it t l t200d
Print the first draft I finished yesterday read it and Print the first draft I finished yesterday, read it, and revise it
Write the first paragraphs of the General Discussion
Add missing references and reconcile the citations and references
Brainstorm and make an outline for a new ms.
Setting Priorities(an Academic) Setting Priorities (an Academic)
1.Check page proofs and copyedited manuscripts
1Ch k f d dit d i t
2Finish projects with deadlines
2.Finish projects with deadlines
p j
3.Revise manuscripts to resubmit to a journal
4.Review manuscripts and grant proposals [I schedule
this separately]
5.Develop a new manuscript
5Develop a new manuscript
6.Do miscellaneous writing
6Do miscellaneous writing
Setting Priorities (Postgrad
Student)
1.Projects with deadlines
2.Curricular writing (thesis, confirmation document)
3.Professional publications
4.Other writing
Monitoring Your Progress Monitoring Your Progress
Most people have no idea how much--or how little--
they are actually writing
Research on self-regulation suggests people must monitor their progress toward the goal
Self-observation alone can caused the desired Self observation alone can caused the desired
behaviour (Korotitsch & Nelson-Gray, 1999)
month date day words goal project
June14Tuesday Met Emotion Concepts Paper June15Wednesday Met Trait Curiosity Paper
June16Thursday137Met Trait Curiosity Paper
June17Friday321Met Emotion Concepts Paper
J F id M t E ti C t P
June18Saturday305Met CAI1
June19Sunday Met CAI1
June20Monday390Met CAI1
June21Tuesday1154Met CaI1; Emotion Concepts Paper June22Wednesday353Met Emotion Concepts Paper June23Thursday Met Emotion Concepts Paper June24Friday Met ECM Grant
June25Saturday Met ECM Grant
June26Sunday Met Emotion Concepts Paper June27Monday Met CAI2
June28Tuesday Met CAI2
June29Wednesday1488Met JSP revision
June30Thursday Met JSP revision
JSP revision
July1Friday354Met JSP revision
July2Saturday373Met JSP revision
July3Sunday Unmet JSP revision
July4Monday433Met Emotion Concepts Paper
July5Tuesday Met JSCP paper
July6Wednesday Met JSCP paper
July7Thursday Met JSCP paper
July8Friday Met JSCP paper
July9Saturday Met JSCP paper
S SC
July10Sunday Met JSCP paper