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Calm productivity for academics
Category: Writing
[Note] Write daily with shared goals
“One study suggests that academics who write daily and set goals with someone weekly write nearly ten times as many pages as those without regular writing habits.” – Pat Thomson
Avoid information overload with an effective knowledge cycle
Learn how to combat information overload in academia with a systematic knowledge cycle. This five-step approach helps busy academics convert overwhelming information into valuable insights through purposeful capture, regular processing, deliberate connection, consistent creation, and continuous improvement—all without simply working longer hours.
[Note] Academics speak only to each other
“Researchers, scientists, academicians marshal their facts to a higher standard, but with their neglect of the emotive power of language they often speak only to each other, their parochial words dropping like sand on a private desert.” – Sol Stein
[Note] Treat perfection like a process
“Treat perfection like a process, not an achievable state. Perfectionism is crippling to productivity. I’ve known academics that can’t even start projects because of perfectionism.” – Matt Might
Improve academic writing with classic style
Good writing prioritises clear presentation of ideas with a focus on structure, logic, and function, akin to architecture rather than decoration. Classic style, which advocates simplicity, truth, and conversation-like diction, is recommended for its clarity and authority. Overly complex academic writing should be avoided in favor of minimalism and functionality to effectively convey research and…
Goal-driven motivation: Writing when you don’t feel like it
Goal-driven motivation is the incentive to do something I know is valuable when I don’t feel like doing it at all.
[Note] Write what the reader wants
“Great writing requires you to position your idea in a way that will resonate with the reader. Average writers start with what they want to say without considering how it will land with the reader. Great writers understand the journey starts with what the reader desires.” – Farnam Street
Using AI to overcome writer’s block
Struggling with writer’s block? Learn how to use AI tools effectively to move past blank page paralysis and create workable first drafts of your academic writing. While AI can’t replicate your unique voice, it can help you overcome writer’s block and focus on refining your ideas.
Distraction-free writing: Plain text editors for academic work
Discover how distraction-free writing tools can transform your academic writing practice. Moving beyond traditional word processors, learn how minimalist writing environments can help maintain consistent writing progress. This guide explores practical strategies for selecting and implementing distraction-free writing tools that align with the natural flow of academic thinking.
Writing to understand
Writing to understand challenges how academics typically approach writing as a final step in research. Rather than waiting until we have complete knowledge, this post explores how writing itself can be a powerful tool for thinking and discovery, helping us make connections and clarify our understanding through the act of writing.
Writing at four levels
Tackle writing in four stages: capture high-level concepts, develop a coherent structure, craft consistent paragraphs, and write concise sentences. This structured approach makes the writing process more manageable, allowing you to focus on one element at a time and produce polished, effective work.