Most research proposals, dissertations and funding bids start off with some kind of problem statement. A research/thesis problem statement needs to do several interconnected things to work well. At its core, it needs to articulate what specific issue or puzzle your research addresses. This is the “problem” part. But it’s not just about stating that […] … learn more→

One of the things that separates just OK academic writing from really good academic writing is how smoothly it flows. You’ve probably read papers where every paragraph feels like a fresh start, you’re constantly working to figure out how ideas connect. And then you’ve read papers where the argument just unfolds naturally, carrying you along […] … learn more→

In 2007, a science fiction writer named Rennie Saunders was struggling to find time to write. A stay-at-home dad with a young child, he wasn’t facing a lack of time so much as a lack of protected time. There was always something else that needed doing. So he tried something simple: he created a public […] … learn more→

Every academic writer knows the sting of a harsh review. Every one. Including me. We’ve all had them. The review that is scathing, brutal and toxic. The immediate impulse is often to fire back defensively, ignore the review completely, or let it consume your thoughts for days. But there’s a third option that can be […] … learn more→

So you’ve got this mountain of “stuff” that keeps revealing new secrets every time you look at it. Or maybe you’re doing a PhD by publication and panicking about how to sort out the articles you need. Either way, you’re probably wondering whether you can write multiple journal articles from the same data without looking […] … learn more→

Academic writing can be a pretty solitary pastime. Lonely even. There’s nobody to talk to in those moments when you just can’t seem to think your way through the fog or find the right way to get an idea onto the page. These are the times when many people turn to their dog or cat […] … learn more→

The middle is a hard place to be. The middle of a thesis or a book can be excruciating. Things are underway, but not finished. The end is in sight, but not yet reached. In the middle, it’s easy to lose faith in the direction you’re travelling. One of my PhD mentors, Dr Diane Mulcahy, used […] … learn more→

The myth of ideal academic writing time persists. We all long to be in a quiet office, surrounded by books, with hours of uninterrupted time to craft elegant arguments. But the reality is very different. Most of us juggle teaching loads, administrative duties, family responsibilities and the general push and pull of just living. That’s bad […] … learn more→

A couple of times a year I write about strategies for getting going with your writing. But I’ve made a big list this time, just for a change. Fifty things to do to help yourself with your writing. Build your writing strategy repertoire! Tackle perfectionism Write badly on purpose – Give yourself permission to write […] … learn more→