
Writing Tips for Authors and Academics

Writing Tips that Work!
Create a writing schedule. Routine can help! Ignore the writing schedule when it is not working. Balancing flexibility and commitment is key.
The brain gets bored, tired, or both if a task does not seem to be moving forward. Try pulse writing sessions of 40 minutes, then switch projects.
Read. Read. Read.
Drafting and editing are different phases of writing. Stay conscious of what writing phase you are in, and try to avoid editing when you are still writing.
Just write. Even if you feel like you have nothing to say. If you sit in front of your computer and start typing, something will come. All writers experience imposter syndrome at some point. You are a writer if you write.
Read your work aloud to help clarify meaning.
Editing? Try editing on hardcopy to find “hidden” grammatical errors.
Stay current. Writing is a dynamic process. Ensure you are aware of your own biases and find ways to strengthen inclusivity regarding your audience.
Writing Guides
Invest in a writing guide. It helps get the ball rolling and keep the mind thinking in the right direction. Here are a few good examples:
Murray, Donald M. The Craft of Revision. Fifth Edition. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth, 2004
Acquire a copy of the style guide typically associated with your discipline. Here are a few standard reference guides. Purdue Online Writing Lab has accessible sources in this regard.
Keep reading: There are many helpful bloggers out there who can help us keep up-to-date with our writing process. Check out the Sensitive Writing Guide on Website Planet.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
— Maya Angelou, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
OpenAI and editing: This blog post presents some of the key questions surrounding the use of AI. It focuses on LLMs and overviews how this new(ish) technology is impacting academia from an editor’s perspective.