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The most useful textbook & academic posts of the week: July 13, 2018

July 13, 2018 By Eric Schmieder Leave a Comment

"Words are a lens to focus one's mind." ~Ayn Rand This week’s collection of articles from around the web start with some writing motivation including the question “Have you started writing yet?” and the discussion of writing productivity through a daily writing habit. There is additional advice on how to get your manuscript submitted, proofreading tips, and developing diversity in your reference lists. We close our list with other topics of interest, including what cannot be said in academia, new tools for open access research, quality concerns related to OER, and one college’s efforts to save on textbook costs.

According to Ayn Rand, “Words are a lens to focus one’s mind.” This week I encourage you to use your words, focus your mind, and move forward on your summer writing projects. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Most useful textbook & academic writing posts Tagged With: academia, article submission tips, OER, open access, proofreading, references, textbook costs, writing habits, writing motivation

The most useful textbook & academic writing posts of the week: May 1, 2015

April 30, 2015 By TAA Leave a Comment

The semester is rapidly coming to an end, with some of you already finished. Have you given thought to your summer writing goals? Do you write more or less during the summer months? I love this quote, “Write until it becomes as natural as breathing. Write until not writing makes you anxious.” I’m not really sure if writing will ever feel as natural as breathing, no matter what amount of writing I do. However one thing is for sure: not writing does make me anxious. I have to get the thoughts out of my head and onto my computer screen (and sometimes paper). It’s like the throbbing pain in your knee, slightly annoying and always at the back of your mind. But, the only way to cure it is to keep moving, keep running, or it gets worse. Just like the only cure for that anxious feeling of not writing is to keep writing. I’m curious what you think: Is writing as natural as breathing for you? Does not writing make you anxious? And as always, happy writing! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Most useful textbook & academic writing posts Tagged With: academic writing, academic writing strategies, editing, grants, grants for graduate students, how to get a grant, journal articles, most useful posts, peer review, predatory publishers, proofreading, revising, scholarly writing, Scrivener, writing tips

The most useful textbook & academic writing posts of the week: October 31, 2014

October 31, 2014 By TAA Leave a Comment

As promised, I’ve gathered a long list of You would rather pack book than clothes when you go on vacation. most useful posts for your must-read list this week. This week’s list is full of great writing tips and tools to help you move your writing project forward. Although only a month into this weekly series, I have to say these are some of my favorite and (hopefully) most useful posts yet. These are never in a particular order, just randomly placed, so make sure to read all the way to the bottom as they are no less important! Happy Halloween and, as always, happy writing! [Read more…]

Filed Under: Most useful textbook & academic writing posts Tagged With: academic, academic writing, author website, coauthoring, how to handle rejection, proofreading, scholarly writing, textbook writing, writing, writing advice, writing tips

How to efficiently blend multiple writing drafts

March 23, 2009 By TAA Leave a Comment

Q: “I find that I am forever writing different versions of the same thing, leaving me with the problem of collating them, or blending them together. It also wastes time, of course, to duplicate effort like that. Can you share some ideas for a more efficient process?”

A: Andrew P. Johnson, Ph.D., Professor of Holistic Education, Department of Special Education, Minnesota State University, Mankato:

“Words put order to chaos/thought. My process —

1. Start with draft in written form.

2. Put garbage on the page — Most people get stuck trying to get it perfect … At this stage you are a potter throwing a blob of clay on the wheel.

3. Then start shaping — take away — add.

Outlines are flexible ways to get you thinking ahead — However, trust your unconscious mind. Slow the mind. Focus on one sentence at a time. Then one paragraph at a time. Then one section at a time. Let other things leak out onto the page but focus just on the sentence, paragraph, section. The time to take a holistic sense of your article is when you are printing off a hard copy during the editing stage.”

Filed Under: Editing, Tips of the trade Tagged With: editing, first drafts, outlines, proofreading, rough drafts, time management