Word by Word Winning at Writing

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Word by WordWinning at Writing
A lot of my insights came through writing... next
time I will begin writing sooner (Krathwohl,
1998).
...writing is good for the soul (Cameron, 1998).
Be careless, reckless! Be a lion, be a pirate,
when you write (Ueland, 1983).
Just take it bird by bird... (Lamott, 1995).
When tired, write when confused, write when
hungry, write... (Hannafin, 1994).
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Writing A few things to remember...

• We are all working on improving our writing!
• Everyone struggles with writing at some point and
  time
• You cant write the second word until you have
  written the first
• Having time -- or being inspired -- to write
  is a luxury
• Just take it bird by bird!

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Writing for Publication

• Its not just about publish or perish!
• Expanding the body of knowledge
• Tightening the relationship between research and
  teaching
• Honing your critical thinking skills

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Writing for Publication

• Who are you writing for?
• Know you audience
• Scholars?
• Practioners?
• What is your focus?
• Have a clear idea of your purpose

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Writing for Publication

• What is the best journal?
• Go for the top - keeping in mind the level of
  the work being presented
• Guidelines for authors is invaluable!
• Style
• Length
• Other formatting considerations

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Stages of the Process

• 1. Discovering, Narrowing, and Focusing a
  Researchable Topic
• 2. Finding, Selecting, and Reading Sources
• 3. Grouping, Sequencing, and Documenting
  Information
• 4. Writing an Outline and a Prospectus for
  Yourself
• Writing the Introduction, Body, and Conclusion
• Write, proof, write, proof, write, proof...
• Revising the Final Draft
• adapted from -- http//www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbo
  ok/PlanResearchPaper.html

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Stages of the Process

• What am I going to write about? Discovering,
  Narrowing, and Focusing
• what interests you?
• is there a problem?
• is there something you are curious about?
• talk about it with your colleagues
• write!

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Stages of the Process

• How will I substantiate my ideas? Finding,
  Selecting, and Reading Sources
• develop and refine your information seeking
  skills
• know the best sources for your field
• this will help with finding information as well
  as reviewing potential publication outlets!
• develop and polish your reading skills
• shortcuts outline, 3-5 central ideas/key terms,
  summary
• know the formula
• have a conversation with the author/manuscript
• Note special thanks to Richard Kiely for his
  presentation information

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Stages of the Process

• How will I keep track of documents and ideas as I
  am writing? Grouping, Sequencing, and Recording
  Information
• create a system that works for you!
• paper vs. electronic
• back ups!!
• Where to start? Writing an Outline (for yourself
  or others)
• good habit to establish now!
• practice and get feedback
• use the formula to get started

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Stages of the Process

• To the Task! Writing the Introduction, the Body,
  the Conclusion
• Intro background, problem, purpose, questions,
  organization
• Body lit review (framework), methodology (if
  empirical research), findings/analysis
• Conclusion so what and now what
• 6. Write, proof, write, proof, write, proof...

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Writing the Drafts!

• Focus on organization logical sequences not on
  polish (grammar, wording, etc.)
• Present the problem at the beginning
• Convince the reader that your work is important
• Describe what you will be doing
• Assume that your reader knows nothing about your
  project - but (perhaps) that they do have some
  background information for your work
• Avoid biased/sexist language
• Avoiding Sexist Language by Linda Elizabeth
  Alexander from
  http//enursescribe.com/avoidsexist.htm

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Stages of the Process

• 7. Revising the Final Draft
• check overall organization
• check style
• get feedback
• peers, writing groups, more knowledgeable others
• General Writing Concerns
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/ind
  ex.html
• ESL Resources, Handouts, Exercises
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/index.h
  tml

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Submitting the Manuscript

• Seek perfection!
• Read and read one more time
• Know the logistical process
• Paper or electronic?
• Writing a letter of submission

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The Black Box aka The Review Process

• Editor review or Peer Review
• Blind? Author known?
• Out for review
• Editor review of comments
• Initial decisions
• Publish as is
• Publish with revisions
• Revise and resubmit
• Reject
• Comments and feedback to the author

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Back to You!

• Publish with Revisions/Revise and Resubmit
• Carefully review the comments
• What needs to be clarified
• What needs to be changed/revised
• Make the revisions
• Write a letter to the editor re changes made
• Create a table for making changes
• Out for review (again!)
• Repeat the process

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Is Reject the End?!?
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Is Reject the End?!?
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Is Reject the End?!?

• Review the comments
• What is helpful?
• Are there things you can address easily?
• Is this the right journal?
• Resubmit to another journal sooner rather than
  later!

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Organizing You!

• The more you do ahead of time, the easier it will
  be in the long run
• Create a work schedule -- and stick to it!
• Create writing rituals
• shoes/shirt/hat
• writing spaces
• How To Make Your (Home) Office Reflect You by
  Maria Marsala from http//enursescribe.com/Makeyo
  uroffice.htm
• Foster humility!
• Reward yourself -- often!

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A Final Thought...

• Writing is a great way to discover what we are
  thinking, as well as to discover gaps in our
  thinking Wolcott(1990) p. 21

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Online Resources Writing Overall

• Advise on Academic Writing http//www.utoronto.ca/
  writing/advise.html
• The Argument http//www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handou
  ts/argument.html
• Citation Guides http//www.libs.uga.edu/researchce
  ntral/writing/index.html
• ESL Writing for an American Audience
  http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/esl/eslaudi
  ence.html
• Online Writing Lab Handouts/Resources
  http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/index.html
• Overall resource list http//owl.english.purdue.ed
  u/internet/resources/index.html
• Stages of the Process http//www.wisc.edu/Handbook
  /process.html
• Tips from a professional editor
  http//lillieammann.com/2007/11/26/seven-editing-t
  ips-for-professional-and-nonprofessional-writers/
• UGA Writing Center http//www.english.uga.edu/writ
  ingcenter/writing/index.html
• Writing Tips
  http//www-personal.umi
  ch.edu/sdcamp/up540/writingtips.html

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Online Resources Publishing

• John Hopkins Writing for Publication
  http//guides.library.jhu.edu/publishing
• Bureau of Educational Research, UIUC
  http//ed.uiuc.edu/ber/webpages/Writing_for_Public
  ation_Advice.htm
• Deakin University in Australia http//www.deakin.e
  du.au/arts-ed/research/images/WritingforPublicatio
  nNotes.pdf
• And several more print resources available.

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Credits

• Academic Writing (NurseScribe) http//enursescribe
  .com/academic_writing.htm
• Advise on Academic Writing
• http//www.utoronto.ca/writing/advise.html
• Hannafin, M. J. (personal communication)
• Kiely, R. (2003). Navigating graduate study at
  UGA. Presentation for the UGA Graduate School.
• Purdue Writing Site
• http//owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/ind
  ex.html
• Witt, P. A. Writing for Publication
  http//www.rpts.tamu.edu/Faculty/Witt/wittpub8.htm
  
• Writing Center at Wisconsin
• http//www.wisc.edu/writing/Handbook/PlanResearchP
  aper.html