There are no right answers here, but the true answer to the question ‘how many drafts should I expect to … More
Tag: academic writing
Writing a PhD in your second language: 7 reasons you’re doing great and 5 ways to do even better
Students who don’t speak English as their first language are often very worried about writing an 80-100,000 word thesis. And … More
Moving beyond ‘binge’ vs ‘snack’ writing
‘Binge writing’ is a common term, which I see used globally by people talking about why it’s better to write a small amount every day. But we need a more inclusive way to talk about intense and fulfilling writing time.
Escape from the Perfect Sentence Vortex of Doom: Second Edition
In 2013, I wrote one of my most significant early posts on this blog, The Perfect Sentence Vortex and How … More
Generative Writing and #shutupandwrite: Second Edition
Of all the posts I wrote for this blog in the early days, ‘Generative Writing and #shutupandwrite‘ has dated the … More
How to position your argument using a fish skeleton!
I’ve addressed some of these questions before, particularly in Building your thesis on the corpses of your enemies and in my … More
Getting back into writing after a break
Often candidates and researchers come to talk to me when they are trying to get back into academic writing after … More
How to plan your research days
Hello everyone! It’s been quiet here for a bit, not because my drafts folder isn’t full of future posts but … More
Writing ahead of your research
Normally, we think of the process of writing a thesis as a process of ‘writing up’. That is, you do … More
But what if I don’t wanna?
One of the biggest challenges for PhD candidates, and any writer, is motivation. There is little external motivation beyond ‘getting … More
