Effective Writing Practices to Help You Make Progress

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

As a new semester begins, it’s essential to implement effective writing practices that can help you advance your projects. In this article, I share some key practices you should consider:

1. Incorporate Daily Writing, Short Writing Sessions, and Writing Logs

Achieving progress is one of the most satisfying feelings. To experience this, establish habits that lead you toward your goals and track your progress to provide visual evidence of your hard work. As a writer, consider building the following habits: writing daily, keeping your writing sessions short, and maintaining writing logs. These practices will help you stay productive, motivate you to continue working on your projects, and enhance your overall sense of achievement.

Dear Dr. Noelle: Stuck Without Words

By Dr. Noelle Sterne

Q: I know what I want to write about, but I can’t seem to get anything down on the page.            

      — Wordless

A: Writing—whatever the type—is hard. Whether we must write a proposal, dissertation, article, book, or thank you letter, most of us have trouble starting, continuing, and finishing. Like you, I’ve had many tortured writing—or not writing—experiences, as do the clients I coach and whose work I edit. Observing all of our ridiculous roadblocks, I’ve developed eleven tricks to help us ease into or continue our writing. If you need convincing, credible rationales are here too for how each method can help you.

1. Feel Good.

Why You Should Prioritize Rest

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Recently, I spent about an hour doing nothing in particular. My husband and I sat outdoors; while he read, I stared at the sky. Surprisingly, even though I had two writing projects due soon, I didn’t feel guilty about taking the time to rest. Why?

Many writers, myself included, often overlook the importance of rest. We may view it as a waste of time or a reward we deserve only after completing a project. However, Claudia Hammond, author of The Art of Rest, argues that rest is essential and should be taken seriously.

Why You Should Appreciate Academic Writing Resources

By Angelica Ribeiro, Ph.D.

Recently I found myself feeling grateful for a book that has been incredibly helpful for my research study. While it might not seem significant to express gratitude for a book, I learned from Kristen Mosley (2022) that we should appreciate the resources we have. Let me explain.

Mosley’s research has examined the relationship between teachers’ demands and the resources available to them to assess their risk for stress. She discovered that the demands placed on teachers, combined with the resources they have to meet those demands, can significantly affect their stress levels. When teachers face high demands with insufficient resources, they may experience burnout—manifesting as emotional exhaustion and a sense of low accomplishment—along with increased stress and diminished well-being. In contrast, having greater resources can enhance teacher well-being.

How to Get Unstuck When Facing a Writing Challenge

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Some years ago, while I was checking my emails, I came across a message from my advisor. As soon as I opened it, I wished I hadn’t. The email contained feedback on my dissertation proposal, and she asked me to rewrite the entire document. Since I only had a few weeks to complete it, I felt overwhelmed, stuck, and lost. Many writers have likely gone through a similar experience situation when working on a project. If that resonates with you, read on.

How to Use Stress as a Helpful Tool

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Last month was especially stressful for me. In addition to my regular teaching and writing commitments, I had to complete two other major writing projects and present at a conference. As if that weren’t enough, I unexpectedly experienced significant pain in one of my legs, which required several medical appointments. Juggling all of this work and managing my physical discomfort made last month particularly stressful. I found myself faced with two choices regarding how to view stress: I could see it as either helpful or harmful.

While many people tend to view stress as harmful, Kelly McGonigal encourages us to see it as helpful. In her book The Upside of Stress, she points out three key ways in which stress can benefit us: