Viewing time: 4 mins 46 secs

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #164, which addresses the value of daily writing. The post first ran on Nov. 20/20.

Transcript:

What’s the value of daily writing? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode.

I have a question from Monique LaSalle, a  professor based in Montreal, Canada. Here’s what she’s asked by email….

“What do you say to students who think they can only write productively in long spurts of time? Many of my students believe that it’s the ONLY way they can write! How do you convince them of the value of daily writing?”

Thanks for your question, Monique. In my experience, students don’t learn much if you just tell them something. You need to show them the value of what you’re proposing. 

So here’s what I suggest you do. Have your students download the writing tracking form from my website — it’s free! See link in the show notes below. Then, ask them to record their writing time and the number of words they write every day for one week, writing for as long as they want. AFTER THAT, ask them to do the same record-keeping for one more week. But this time, tell them they should write for no more than 30 minutes per day. They should also devote an equal amount of time to researching and planning.

After they’ve done this two-week comparison, ask them which system allowed them to produce the greatest number of words. And ask them which system made them feel better and more enthusiastic about writing.

I’m certain the vast majority will be more productive with the smaller amount of time. There are five important reasons for this:

1. They will be more efficient because their time is short. Have any of your students ever caught themselves sitting and staring at a blank screen like zombies? They do this because they don’t know what to write next. But if they have a time limit, they won’t allow themselves to get stuck in this sticky wicket. Think about how breathtakingly efficient we all become when preparing to leave on holiday: We work quickly; we do only the most essential stuff. Your students will benefit by approaching writing with the same time-limited mindset. In fact, I think this is why so many students don’t start their essays until the night before they are due. They want the situation to FORCE them into working quickly.
2. The short deadline will stop them from procrastinating. People don’t procrastinate because they are lazy. They procrastinate because the job they need to do seems too big, overwhelming or painful. By spending less time on the project each day, they are going to be making it a whole lot less intimidating. As a result, they’re less likely to procrastinate about it.
3. They won’t run the risk of burning themselves out. While they may produce 1,000 words on one of their red-hot writing sessions, they’ll quickly discover that they’ll feel tired and worn out the next day and maybe even the day after that. But if they were to write 200 words every day for a week, they’d have 1,000 words by Friday!
4. Writing for a short amount of time will appeal to their inner two-year olds. If your students dislike writing (or even if they just feel ambivalent about it) having a time limit will suddenly make the work seem much more attractive.
5. They’ll have time to do other things. If your students insist on spending eight hours a day writing, they won’t have time for exercise, for listening to music and for chatting with friends – all of the things that make life worthwhile. Writing is a creative act and to do it we need to get energy from activities other than working.

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the fantasy writer Jane Yolen: 

“Exercise the writing muscle every day…Writers are like dancers, like athletes. Without that exercise, the muscles seize up.”

Monique, it’s hard to convince students of anything new, especially something that might feel counterintuitive to them. Try to do your persuading by helping the students figure out for themselves what will make them most productive. Or maybe, ask them to watch this video!

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes.  

Links 

Writing tracking form (MS Word & PDF)

Your Happy First Draft

Viewing time: 5 mins 42 secs

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #163, which addresses how to deal with perfectionism in writing. The post first ran on Nov. 13/20.

Transcript: 

How can you deal with perfectionism? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode.

I have a question from Nan Woody, a student based in Tirana, Albania. Here’s what she’s asked by email….

“I face four big issues when it comes to writing. Panic: I feel as though I will never finish my paper. Perfectionism: I want my writing to be perfect (even though I know that no one else is perfect, and I am a human being like everyone else.) Impostor syndrome: I keep asking myself what I’m doing here. Lack of confidence: I don’t trust my results, and I trivialise my work all the time. Can you give me any advice that will help?”

Thanks for your questions, Nan. I don’t know if this will help, but the vast majority of grad students I work with feel exactly the same way.

It’s also interesting that the four points you mention —panic, perfectionism, imposter syndrome and lack of confidence— are so clearly related to each other.

In fact, to me, all your problems stem from the same root — perfectionism.

Think about it! Panic comes from perfectionism, because you know you can never be perfect. In fact, you made that point in your question to me. Imposter syndrome comes from perfectionism because you feel fake. Why? Because you’re not perfect, of course! Lack of confidence comes from perfectionism because you want to be perfect and you’re not.

So, I strongly suggest you address your perfectionism, and I think those other problems will fall by the wayside. Here are seven tips for you:

1- Recognize that perfectionism is a problem

Something about the word “perfect” sounds delightful to the human ear. What could be better than perfect? But that idea is a trap. When you expect perfection, you’re setting an unhealthy standard that’s both self-defeating and demoralising. Keep reminding yourself that good enough is, in fact, good enough!

2- Create more realistic goals for yourself

Replace your perfectionistic expectations with ones that you can actually achieve. And pay attention to what you CAN do rather than factors you can’t control. For example, you have no power over whether your prof gives you an A. But you CAN finish the first draft of your paper five days early, so you have plenty of time for editing. 

3- Be aware that a first draft will never be any good

Some of my clients feel despair that their writing is no good. Here’s what I tell them: NO ONE’S first draft is any good, not even Stephen King’s or Margaret Atwood’s. All professional writers understand that writing is an iterative process. Your work will improve with each draft, so your main challenge is to produce the first draft as quickly as possible so you have plenty of time for editing.

4- Challenge your inner critic

Our inner critics love to give us a bad time. They tell us we’re no good, that we’re imposters and that everyone else is much more successful and talented. Even super-successful writers like Maya Angelou (see link below) felt this way. Understand that this is just talk with no evidence. Tell your inner critic to take a hike!

5- Stop yourself from multitasking

Multitasking, where you try to do more than one thing at a time, is endemic among students. They not only try to juggle texting and writing or Facebooking and writing, but they also try to manage researching while writing or editing while writing. Resolve that you will NOT allow yourself to go down this troubled path. Multitasking is stressful and will cause you to make more mistakes. Do just one thing at a time. When you write, write. When you edit, edit. You’ll be a much happier person — and a better writer — that way.

6- Stop procrastinating

Don’t wait for the perfect moment to start your next essay. Instead, begin it immediately — as soon as you get the assignment. You will be empowered by taking action, and you’ll get more done.

7- Understand that time off is not time wasted

Many people who suffer from perfectionism drive themselves so hard that they refuse to take time off or do anything fun at all. This is always a mistake. But if this attitude describes you, I encourage you to read the book The Now Habit by Neil Fiore (see link in the show notes.) Fiore presents a delightful plan for something he calls an unschedule. I think you’ll find it very helpful.

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the writer and marketer Ryan Holiday:

“Perfectionism rarely begets perfection, or satisfaction — only disappointment.”  

Nan, perfectionism is a soul-sucking habit. Take steps to fight it immediately. Embracing your own imperfection will be the best favour you can do for yourself.

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. 

Links

Maya Angelou’s imposter syndrome

The Now Habit by Neil Fiore

Your Happy First Draft

Viewing time: 5 mins 3 secs

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #162, which describes how to write sentences with more impact. The post first ran on Nov. 6/20.

Transcript:

How can you write sentences with more impact? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode.

I have a question from Marisa Delgado, an academic based Manchester, England. Here’s what she’s asked by email….

“I would like to be more powerful in my writing — meaning I’d like to write sentences that have more impact. Maybe I have this feeling because I’m not a native speaker, but sometimes I think that important parts of my ideas and arguments are not as powerful as they could be. Does this make any sense to you?”

Thanks for your question, Marisa. I’m glad you told me that English is a second language for you because I’m certain that’s part of the matter.

I’m working hard to improve my French right now and I know how inept and incompetent it makes me feel. My inability to find the French word I want, my fear of grammatical errors, my discomfort with idiom… All of these issues make me a painfully slow speaker, reader and writer in French.

But the way to deal with these challenges — at least when it comes to writing — is to write as quickly as possible and then give yourself LOTS of time for editing later.

Focus on SEPARATING the jobs of writing and editing, when you write you’re putting your ideas into words. Don’t stop to evaluate the quality of those words. Don’t stop to fix errors! Just keep writing. When you write, only write.

Editing is the time when you can correct errors and make your sentences more impactful. I’m going to give you a few tips about adding impact in a moment. But first let me emphasize the urgency of delaying editing. Why?

When you’re writing, you want to be using your creative brain to come up with profound ideas. The impact of each sentence comes not just from how you express it but also from the very idea you’re expressing.

Content is at least as important as form, and perhaps even more so. So, if you’re focusing only on form, you’re missing the biggest opportunity for increasing your impact. Be sure to leave your editing for later, well after you’ve finished writing.

OK, now here are my tips for form. I have two of them aimed squarely at academics.

 1 – Check your average sentence length. Many academics don’t pay nearly enough attention to this metric. You want to aim at an average length of 14 to 18 words per sentence. See link in the show notes to a blog post I’ve written about this topic.

Understand that I’m not saying no long sentences should be allowed. Of course, most academic writers will need the occasional 50-word sentence! But you need to balance them out with some much shorter ones. You want your average to be in the 14 to 18 word range.

In English, it sounds particularly elegant and impactful to have a very long sentence followed by a very short one. So, after that 50-word sentence, have a one- to five-word one. Now, some people tell me that such short sentences don’t exist. They’re wrong. See that? I just gave you two two-word sentences in a row: They’re wrong. See that.

2 – Watch out for passive voice. Passive voice occurs when you hide the actor of the sentence. Here’s my favourite example: “Mistakes were made.”

Who made those mistakes? We don’t know. Many academics seem to think their writing sounds more formal or more official with the passive voice, but it doesn’t. It just sounds more boring. Even in scientific writing where you cannot write phrases like, “researchers discovered that…” you CAN say, “the evidence appears to show that…” Always say who is doing the action you are describing. Active sentences are far more impactful for all readers. 

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the writer and motivational speaker Simon Sinek:

“Genius is in the idea. Impact, however, comes from action.”

Marisa, I know you’re wanting to improve your writing and that is a terrific goal. Just don’t be sure to set yourself up for success by working to separate the jobs of writing and editing. And finally, when you edit, be sure to focus on reducing your sentence length and reducing your use of passive voice.

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. 

Links 

 A step by step guide to better sentence length

Your Happy First Draft

Viewing time: 4 mins 40 secs 

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #161, which considers whether it’s wise to revisit mindmaps. The post first ran on Oct. 30/20.

Transcript: 

Is it wise to revisit mindmaps? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode.

I have a question from Edson Bueno, a writer based in Brazil. Here’s what he’s asked by email….

“Do you keep revisiting your mindmaps? And, if so, is the purpose to refresh your memory or is it to change/add things? Also, have you ever had the experience of using a whiteboard for mindmapping? I’m a software engineer and have had many great experiences using whiteboards for coming up with solutions. I wonder if it’s because of the size of the whiteboard — they are so big that you feel immersed. Or perhaps it’s because you’re standing up and that seems to lead to more creativity.”

Thanks for your question, Edson. I’m a huge advocate of mindmapping and I’ve written a number of blog posts on the topic and created videos, too. For a link to ALL this material, please go to the show notes, below.

Let me emphasize I regard mindmapping as an inspirational rather than an organizational activity. For this reason, I never revisit mindmaps. I do them and then they inspire me or they don’t. If they don’t inspire, then I do another one.

Rather than revisiting mindmaps, I think it’s better to start new ones. Here’s how the sequence should go:

Step 1: THINK about what you want to write. This may take several hours, days or, very rarely, weeks.

Step 2: Take a piece of paper, turn it sideways and write a question about your topic in the centre of the page. A question is going to be way more useful than a topic.

Step 3: Mindmap on this question for 3 to 5 minutes. This means writing down anything that springs into your brain. Don’t make your notes detailed. Instead, use something like two to four words that will help you remember your point. I’m showing you an example of a mindmap on the screen. Excuse my hard-to-read printing.

Step 4: While you’re mindmapping, look for what I call the “aha!” experience. This means you are suddenly excited about the idea of writing and you can’t wait to get started. As soon as you have the “aha!” stop mindmapping and start writing.

Step 5: If you don’t have an “aha!” experience, then start a second mindmap, using a different question in the centre of the page.

Step 6: If you don’t have an aha experience after the second mindmap, then do a third one, using a different question again. And if the third doesn’t work, try a fourth. Keep mindmapping for as long as it takes.

If you worry that mindmapping is going to be too time-consuming, remember that an inspirational mindmap should take only three to five minutes to complete. This means you’ll be able to create as many as six to 10 mindmaps in 30 minutes. 

I’ve known people who will sit and stare at a blank screen for 30 minutes. At least with mindmapping you’re doing something that’s fun, interesting and that will bring you closer to your material.

With respect to using a whiteboard, I think that’s a great idea even though I can’t do it myself because I don’t have a big enough wall in my own office. But if you do, go for it! Edson, I think your guesses about the benefits of whiteboard mindmapping are correct. Both the size of the area and the act of standing are likely very helpful to you.

The main thing is to keep mindmapping: It really is like a bit of pixie dust for writers.

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the late mindmapping popularizer Tony Buzan:

“Mind mapping is a technique based on memory and creativity and comprehension and understanding, so when someone uses the mind map, they are using their brain in the way their brain was designed to be used.”

Edson, mindmapping is a great way to inject more creativity in your life. I encourage you to continue using it in order to inspire your writing.

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. 

Links

Daphne’s posts and videos on mindmapping

Your Happy First Draft

Viewing time: 4 mins 28 secs

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #160, which addresses whether there’s ever enough time for academics to write — and how they can make more of it. The post first ran on Oct. 23/20.

Transcript: 

What is the best way to find more time to write? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach.

I have a question from Maya Almanzar, a professor in Madrid, Spain. Here’s what she’s asked by email….

“I am so busy working on creating Zoom lectures for my students, supervising PhD students, and having meetings with my Dean that my writing has fallen by the wayside. It’s so easy to postpone my writing, even though I’m required to publish regularly in peer-reviewed journals. How can I find more time to write?”

Thanks for your question, Maya. Many of my clients ask me about time and, in fact, I’ve already done at least one video on the topic, see link below. But I’m going to answer your query in particular because academics face more pressure than ever these days, having to learn Zoom and lecture from home.

The first thing you’ll want to do is get control of your mindset. Do you see that right now, you’re putting everyone else first: your younger students, your PhD candidates, your Dean. I’m not saying these people are unimportant. Of course, you need to pay attention to them! I’m just suggesting you pay attention to yourself first.

Are you familiar with the financial idea known as “paying yourself first”? If you use this principle, you make regular contributions to your savings account BEFORE you pay bills, buy groceries, or buy anything else. You’re not waiting until the end of the month to save what’s left over. You save first, every month, and this becomes a powerful practice because it prioritizes saving.

Of course, you still pay your bills! Trust me, I’m not suggesting ignoring bills! But you save first. And I suggest you use this principle regarding writing, too. Write first. Before you do anything else.

I know this may sound hard to do — perhaps even unwise — if you have your Dean breathing down your neck. But the principle is based on the concept that important work should always take priority over urgent work.

I know. That’s a bit of a mind-bender. Things are urgent because they are problems, complications, or dilemmas, suggesting that they need immediate attention. But you should still do your most important work — your writing — first.

That’s because most of us could spend all day, every day, responding to urgent matters. But then we’d never get anything important done. And writing is essential to your career. You really do need to MAKE the time for it.

This is why I strongly suggest putting your writing first. Because if you build a wall around yourself, for a short amount of time every day, you’ll be able to get your writing done and then have the rest of the day for dealing with your Zoom lectures, your students and your Dean.

Write for five to 15 minutes every morning — before you answer phone calls and especially before you check email — and you will be able to build a sustainable writing habit. I don’t believe that your students and Dean will be unable to wait for five to 15 minutes!

Writing needn’t take an entire day, or even three or four hours. In fact, you can start with just five to 15 minutes and that will allow you to build up a head of steam that will help you get important papers started.

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the American writer and Quaker William Penn.

“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”

Maya, many academics box themselves into a corner by trying to schedule too much time for writing. Instead, it’s better to start with a small, sustainable goal and do it every day. True, when you’re closer to finishing your paper you will need to devote more time to it. But for now, allow yourself to get started by doing a little bit of work every day.

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. 

Links 

How to find more time to write

Your Happy First Draft 

Viewing time: 4 mins 47 secs 

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #159, which addresses how to protect your sleep. The post first ran on Oct. 16/20.

Transcript: 

What is the best way to protect your sleep? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode.

I have a question from Aybüke Güzen, a student based in Akkara, Turkey. Here’s what she’s asked by email….

“How do you schedule your sleep? I work as a teacher and I’m also doing my master’s degree at the same time. However, I cannot do without eight hours of sleep. So how would you manage a situation like that?”

Thanks for your question, Aybüke. Did you know that in the application form for my Get It Done program, see link below, I ask several questions about sleep? This is not because I’m nosey. It’s because sleep is so deeply important to writers and to creativity. If you do not get adequate sleep, it will be much more difficult for you to write.

So, what exactly is an adequate amount of sleep? Experts say we all need somewhere between seven and nine hours. Given that you need eight, you are entirely normal and fall right in the middle. Be aware that one-third of Americans fail to get adequate sleep. See link below.

As for me, I had serious sleep problems for many years. In my much younger life, I worked all night one day a week and that really messed up my sleep habits. Then, after giving birth to triplets, I failed to get more than about five hours sleep per night for about four years. That just about did me in!

Eventually, I saw a doctor about my sleep problems and here are seven pieces of advice he gave me: 

1 – Start by compressing your sleep. To begin, try to get no more than six hours sleep per night. This will be painful but it will make you more efficient about sleeping. But you need to do that for only two weeks, then you can add in an extra 15 minutes of sleep per night until you feel you’re getting really adequate sleep. See link below for more information on this step. It works for about 80% of people.

2 – Develop the habit of always getting UP at the same time every day of the week — even on weekends. Even if you end up going to bed late, get up at your regular time. You may be somewhat sleep-deprived on that one day but you will be protecting your sleep habit, which is the more important goal.

3 – Try to go to bed at the same time every night —even on weekends. Do you see a theme here? You want to establish regular habits. 

4 – Make sure your bedroom is totally dark. If you have a digital clock, cover it up. Or if light seeps in underneath the door, put a towel there. Or, you can wear an eye covering. I recommend something called a Nitehood sleep mask, link below. I am not a reseller so I won’t make any money if you decide to buy one.

5 – Make sure your room is cool enough. The ideal temperature is 65 degrees F (18.3 C). If you live in a hot climate and don’t have air conditioning, see if you can use a fan to at least circulate the air.

6 – Avoid caffeine after 2 p.m. And be aware that in addition to monitoring your coffee and tea, you also need to pay attention to soda pop, chocolate and some cold remedies — these items often have caffeine, too.

7 – Set yourself an alarm for going TO bed. Most of us are accustomed to the idea of an alarm to wake up but if you have difficulty going to bed on time, set yourself an alarm for sleeping as well. This strategy is very effective for many people.

If you follow all of these habits, you will have taken important positive steps to improve your sleep.

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the American writer Ernest Hemingway.

“I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I’m awake.”

Aybüke, many people act as though they’re heroes for getting little sleep. Instead, sleep is a normal human need and we’ll all do better if we develop a plan for getting enough of it. The steps my doctor outlined should help you do exactly that.  

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book, Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. 

Links

Get It Done application form

A third of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep

Sleep compression

Nitehood

Your Happy First Draft

Viewing time: 4 mins 29 secs 

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #158, which addresses the best way to paraphrase. The post first ran on Oct. 9/20.

Transcript: 

What is the best way to paraphrase? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode.

I have a question from Syeda Mahnoor Raza, a university student based in Islamabad, Pakistan. Here’s what she’s asked by email….

“What is the best way to avoid plagiarism when integrating information from other sources? I  sometimes find myself having a difficult time paraphrasing something that simply cannot be said in a different way. What do you suggest that I do?”

Thanks for your question, Syeda. If it’s any comfort, I work with many academics who struggle with the notion of paraphrasing. You are not alone.

I have a few specific suggestions:

First, have a really effective system for saving and organizing your research. For academics, I recommend using the software Zotero or Mendeley which are free or EndNote if you want to pay. See links in the show notes below.

These pieces of software do more than just manage your research. They also create your citations for you. Take advantage of any software that allows you to do two things at once.

For non-academics who don’t need citations, however, I recommend the software Evernote which has both free and paid options. See link below.

Next tip: When collecting your research, be sure to be diligent about noting your sources. But don’t just transcribe them — unless, of course, there’s a section you know you’re going to want to quote. Instead, take notes about what you’ve read. Don’t look at the original when you’re doing this; force yourself to rely on your memory. Your goal is to jot down the main ideas and facts.

Then, take a moment to compare what you’ve written to the original material. Is your paraphrase different enough? And is it accurate? (You shouldn’t have changed the original meaning.) If you can answer yes to both those questions, you’re fine.

Next, in addition to taking notes about your research, also maintain a separate research diary. This is a place for your thoughts, feelings, ideas and opinions about the research you’ve read. I’ve done a post on this topic before and mentioned it in a couple of videos as well. See links, below.

The research diary will be your place to escape the risk of plagiarism. As well, it will help you write better, more successful essays because it’ll ensure that you’re contributing new thoughts and ideas — your own! — to the academic conversation.

Understand that academic writing is not just about summarizing or marshalling the thoughts of others. Don’t imagine your job to be paraphrasing. Instead, your real work is to make unique connections, explain context and come to new and interesting conclusions.

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the American actor Steven Weber:

“I’ve rarely gotten a good review in my life, yet to paraphrase Noël Coward, I am happy to console myself with the bitter palliative of commercial success.”

Syeda, I used that quote because I wanted to investigate how Weber had paraphrased Coward. Based on my research, the original quote from Coward must have been, “Work hard, do the best you can, don’t ever lose faith in yourself and take no notice of what other people say about you.” Do you see how different the paraphrase is?

What Weber did was he adopted a Noël-Coward-like attitude and constructed a clever sentence. It was built on irony, much like Coward would have used.

That is masterful paraphrasing.

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. Try to have it linger for a couple of seconds.

Links 

Zotero

Mendeley

EndNote

Evernote

Why you should consider keeping a research diary

Where to keep your research diary (video)

 Your Happy First Draft

Viewing time: 4 mins 24 secs 

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #157, which addresses how to find a thesis statement. The post first ran on Oct. 2/20.

Transcript: 

How do you find your thesis statement? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode.

I have a question from Marie Calibre, a grad student based in San Diego, California. Here’s what she’s asked by email….

“With academic writing, how do you home in on the premise of your work? I’m writing a master’s thesis and I’m having a hard time identifying my ‘thesis statement.’ Do you have any suggestions for me?”

Thanks for your question, Marie. For people who aren’t familiar with academic practices, let me begin by giving a definition. A thesis statement is a sentence or short paragraph summarizing the main point of an essay or research paper. In fact, “thesis” is a Greek word meaning ‘proposition.’ So a thesis statement is really the main point you want to make.

An effective thesis statement needs to do three main things:

1. It must be very specific and debatable
2. It must be appropriate to the type of paper you’re writing
3. It must appear within the first section of your text so that it is clear to your reader what the paper is about

Here, for example, is a weak thesis statement:

Shakespeare was the leading playwright of the last 500 years.

Notice that this statement is quite non-specific and, for many people, would hardly be debatable. In fact, if you wanted a better statement, you might propose something like, “Edward Albee [see link in the show notes] is the leading playwright of the last 500 years.” At least it’s a surprising argument!

Anyway, before constructing your thesis statement, you need to do some significant research. Read some good overview literature in your subject area so that you’re really familiar with it.

Once you have a basic understanding of the broad subject area, I suggest you start mindmapping to identify possible thesis statements. I’ve written lots of blog posts and done a number of videos on mindmapping. See links in the show notes below.

But let me emphasize one point about mindmapping that will make a big difference to you. DON’T just write the topic in the centre of the page. Instead, be sure to use a question.

The act of writing a question will force you to become much more specific, which will be helpful to  you as you work to identify your thesis statement.

Also understand that it’s perfectly fine to ask yourself a ‘meta’ question like, “what’s an interesting thesis statement I could use for my paper?”

Keep in mind that you may change the thesis statement several times as you work on the paper. This is normal and expected because the more you work with your topic, the more familiar you will become with the major issues involved.

You might even find that you want to argue in the opposite direction – and that’s okay as well. Writing a paper is a creative process and not one that always proceeds in a predictable way.

Finding a good thesis statement is probably the most important — and most challenging — part of writing a paper. But when you get a good one, it will make the work of writing that paper so much easier!

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the American poet Jenny Zhang:

“Sometimes I worry that people who read my fiction think that I am making some kind of thesis statement.”

Marie, while poets don’t have to worry excessively about thesis statements, academic writers really need to. Take the time to find one that’s going to work for you. It’s well worth the effort.

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. 

Links

Edward Albee

Mindmapping 

Your Happy First Draft 

Viewing time: 3 mins 58 secs 

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #156, which addresses how to choose between great ideas for writing. The post first ran on Sept. 25/20.

Transcript: 

How can you choose between great ideas for writing? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode.

I have a question from Mark Baskin, a writer based in Columbus, Ohio. Here’s what he’s asked by email….

“I have a job but I want to write fiction in my spare time. I have at least three different ideas for novels and they all seem really good to me. So my question is: How do I choose between equally great ideas?”

Thanks for your query, Mark. You’re lucky to have such an embarrassment of riches. I know many other writers who would very much like to be in your shoes!

There are a couple of ways to approach your conundrum. One is to think about — and research — what agents and publishers are seeking right now. If your major goal is to get a publishing deal, you’ll need to give them something they want. 

In the show notes below I’m including a link to a Writer’s Digest piece on literary agents who are seeking new clients. It will only give you broad genres — like adult science fiction or literary fiction — but it may help you a little.

As well, try attending some writer’s workshops where you can interview —briefly — a few agents and gain more of an understanding of their needs. I have a client who landed a book deal this way.

That said, be aware it’s always difficult to predict the future — based on the past. Before J.K. Rowling introduced Harry Potter to the world in 1997, I don’t think anyone would have told you that wizards would be a hot commodity.

Ditto for vampires when Stephanie Meyer unleashed her first Twilight book in 2005. 

For these reasons, I’d actually suggest taking a different approach. Instead of trying to time the market, choose the idea that seems most appealing and fun to you. 

Why would this concept work?

Starting anything is hard enough. Without strong motivation, you’re probably going to find it difficult to keep going in view of the obstacles you’re likely to face.

Be aware that writing a book is going to take several years. Plural. A book needs to be at least 65,000 words and more like 70,000 to 80,000 if you’re hoping to see it published. Make sure you love your idea so much that you’re prepared to live with it for several years.

And once you’ve written it, you’re going to need to edit it, which will add on another couple of years of work. See? You REALLY need to love your idea.

But let’s say you have three ideas and you love them all equally. Then put them in a hat and draw one of them. Yes, that’s entirely arbitrary but if you really like all three ideas equally, you shouldn’t be wasting any more time!

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the entertainer Sammy Davis Jr: 

“You always have two choices: commitment or fear.”

Mark, while it’s great to have more ideas than you really need, it’s possible that you’re using this situation as an excuse to avoid writing. Give yourself a time limit for thinking about which idea appeals the most to you. And if you don’t get an answer, choose arbitrarily. Then, start writing!

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes. 

 Links 

 20 literary agents actively seeking writers (Writer’s Digest) 

 Your Happy First Draft 

Viewing time: 4 mins. 47 secs. 

The Write Question is a weekly video podcast about writing that I started in 2017 and that ran, more or less weekly, until April 2022. This is a republication of issue #155, which addresses burnout and boredom in writing. The post first ran on Sept. 18/20.

Transcript: 

How can you deal with burnout and boredom? That’s the topic I’m addressing today in The Write Question. I’m Daphne Gray-Grant, the Publication Coach, still in pandemic mode. 

I have a question from Syeda Mahnoor Raza, a student from Islamabad, Pakistan. Here’s what she’s asked by email…. 

“How would you deal with burnout and boredom while working on research and academic writing?” 

Thanks for your question, Syeda. Although both burnout and boredom begin with the letter B they don’t really have much in common. Let me take them one at a time. 

Burnout is a state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion caused by too much stress for too long. It occurs when you feel overwhelmed, emotionally drained, and unable to meet constant demands. 

As the stress continues, you lose the interest and motivation that led you to take on your school work in the first place. You feel tired and defeated, as though you have no control over your work or perhaps even your life. 

In the academic world, burnout occurs when you work too much without enough time for socializing, relaxing or exercising. High-achievers, who are also perfectionists, are particularly vulnerable to burnout. So are pessimists.

To deal with burnout, try to create more balance in your life. In particular, focus on the parts of your life that bring you joy. This will likely mean paying more attention to friends and family and making sure you get enough exercise.

Also, make friends at school. Having strong social ties where you spend most of your time can help counter the effects of burnout.

Finally, take time off. Go on vacation, use up your sick days, ask for a temporary leave-of-absence, — do everything you can to remove yourself from the situation. Then, use the time away to get a better, healthier perspective. Consider counselling if necessary. I’ve written a blog post on burnout and I’ve included the link in the show notes below. 

The issue with boredom is quite different. It’s not a threatening condition. In fact, some people believe that boredom is a necessary precursor to creativity.

I’ve written a blog post on how to make writing less boring — see link in the show notes below. But let me recap three tips here.

First, game-ify your writing. Write — or research — with a timer and see how much you can achieve in 30 minutes. And the next time you work, try to accomplish more. It’s a good exercise to focus on the number of words, rather than the quality of them. This will help you avoid developing the very bad habit of editing WHILE you write. See link below. 

Second, figure out your best time for writing or researching. We’re all hard-wired to have certain times of day when we work better. If I have anything important to accomplish, I know I need to do it before 10 am. But some people might feel the same way about AFTER 10 pm. Write or research only at your most powerful time and use other times of day for other tasks. If you’re writing at your “best” time, you’re less likely to become bored.

Third, understand that sometimes, when we’re bored, the real problem is that our major muscles need exercise. Go for a walk or, if you have time, a swim or a bike ride. When you return to work, you’ll feel less bored.

Syeda, I know it might be tempting to see all writing problems as stemming from the same source. In fact they often have different causes. It’s worthwhile taking the time to figure out exactly what’s going on because then you’ll be better able to deal with it. 

Finally, let me wrap up with a quote from the British philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell.  

“Boredom is a vital problem for the moralist, since at least half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it.”

Syeda, while boredom is not necessarily a bad thing, burnout definitely is. You can even let yourself luxuriate in boredom a little bit. But don’t ever toy with burnout. If that’s the issue you’re facing, take immediate steps to deal with it. 

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If you’d like to learn more about how to make writing a happier and more rewarding process, check out my latest book Your Happy First Draft. I don’t sell it in bookstores or via Amazon. The only place to buy it is on my website, link on the screen below and in the show notes.  

Links  

How to save yourself from boredom while writing

How to prevent and recover from burnout

7 ways to stop editing while you write

Your Happy First Draft