“Writing.” It is the answer that most trainees would give when asked, “what should you be doing right now?” But writing is one of those tasks that many of us put off because, frankly, it can be scary. Having your thoughts and perspectives out in the world for others to critique and discuss is intimidating. In a previous article, I wrote tips on writing iteratively and simply. In this article, I will discuss how to write efficiently and keep those words flowing.
Recently, I attended a workshop by Dr. Rachael Cayley of U of T’s Graduate Centre for Academic Communication, on ‘Becoming a Productive Writer.’ I was pleased to see that I was already practicing some of the recommended strategies, but also learned some great new tips to writing efficiently.
Schedule writing. This was a tip I picked up during my master’s degree that provides dedicated time for writing. Physically put writing blocks in your calendar and avoid scheduling meetings during these periods. Schedule these blocks when you are the most productive and save other times for data analysis, emails, and other tasks that might require less creativity and focus. Having writing clubs where everyone sits in a room or on Zoom and writes together also creates a level of accountability that can keep you productive when writing. Spend a few minutes at the beginning to outline your goals and dedicate the last few minutes to discussing whether you met your targets.
Set goals. Create both short- and long-term goals. For example, I am currently writing my thesis which I have created a long-term deadline for completing. I also have smaller goals each day to provide milestones and a sense of accomplishment. Consider using a pomodoro timer to provide additional focus for short periods of time. I find that using the pomodoro strategy provides a sense of urgency to my writing and an obligation to be productive when the clock is running.
Keep writing. Dr. Cayley states, “Writing is the best way to solve writing problems…writing gets easier when we treat writing as a means to better understand our thoughts rather than as an end product to be shared with others.” For me, I found this strategy intriguing and Dr. Cayley offers two concrete ways to treat writing as a strategy, instead of an outcome. “One, write early to help yourself discover what you are thinking. Two, when you hit roadblocks in your thinking during the writing process, continue to use writing to figure out what the problems are.” In other words, if you are having trouble writing – write about it. What are your barriers? Are you distracted? Are you scared to share your ideas? Keep the flow going to remain productive.
Writing can often feel unnerving. With these strategies, I hope that the time you do dedicate to writing can be productive and less daunting. Be sure to visit Dr. Cayley’s blog – a resource I have used and recommended for many years to improve my writing.