Notes on Writing Process

Some resources and ideas to reference to make my writing process a bit easier.

Ideas composed from:

Writing Plan

Some good prerequisites for a good writing situation:

Contact/find a writing buddy or group that can help review text and also provide a bit of accountability.
Make sure I have regular scheduled blocks of uninterrupted time for writing.
Have some related work ready to look at for inspiration in structure, wording and content.

When starting a writing session, warm up by free-writing and using a pomodoro timer to get started. When finished and ready to cool down, leave comments and keywords that can make it easier for myself to pickup writing the next writing session.

A general method to follow:

Outline the work sections and key points in a bullet list.
- Try to keep in mind the key point of the work and make sure the sections and points serve this.
- Use rhetorical moves, or use Edinburgh Academic writing to get inspiration for structure and content.
Add key figures/results.
Start to free-write some bullet lists into draft paragraphs.
Then make passes:
- Consider rewriting some free-written paragraphs.
- Do passes of corrections and reformulations.
- Then polish

General tips for getting better at writing

Have people near you that are actively working on writing and a space where you can provide feedback to each other. At my department we have a PhD writing club, where we can share texts and provide feedback to each-other.
Remember that the text does not have to come out perfect as you write it. It has to go through passes. Free-writing.
Have a practice of writing often. Regularly write short notes and reflections. Consider publishing them publicly to make the stakes a bit higher and put more effort to communicate clearly.
Get worries and commitments to remember out of your head and into some notes so that you can focus on writing.