Head Space

Calm productivity for academics

Category: Writing

  • Giving early drafts substance with plain text

    The early drafts of any piece of writing aren’t meant to ‘be good’. They’re about giving early drafts substance.

  • [Note] Information is exchanged but knowledge is constructed

    “Information is exchanged. Knowledge is constructed.” – Amy Rae Fox

  • Paul Silvia: How to write a lot

    How to Write a Lot by Paul J. Silvia is a practical guide for academics struggling to boost their writing productivity. Silvia emphasizes disciplined scheduling, self-monitoring, and overcoming perfectionism to make writing a consistent part of one’s routine. His strategies empower scholars to publish more without compromising personal time.

  • Academic writing workflow with Obsidian

    Transform your fragmented academic writing workflow into an integrated system that enhances your thinking and productivity. Learn why traditional approaches to managing academic writing across multiple platforms may be holding you back, and explore how connected note-taking tools like Obsidian can create a more natural, sustainable writing environment.

  • Ideal habits and routines

    Just because you know what works, doesn’t mean that nothing else will work. Remember that the ideal routine is not the only routine.

  • Academic writing process: From enduring to enjoying your scholarship

    Transform your academic writing process from a source of stress into a sustainable practice. This post explores how shifting focus from outputs to process can enhance both your writing quality and experience. Learn practical strategies for creating an enjoyable writing routine that supports long-term scholarly growth while maintaining well-being.

  • Types of notes

    Knowing about the different types of notes you’re taking helps inform your approach to note-taking in general.

  • Academics should blog

    Academic blogging is a great way of sharing your work in public, articulating your ideas, and start building a reputation.

  • Writing regularly changes what you pay attention to

    I often find my attention being hijacked by whatever happens to show up in my feed. And in the moment, that content may very well be interesting. The problem is that so much information can be interesting while still having relatively little value. When I’ve set aside 1-2 hours of writing time every day, my attention…

  • Intentional note-taking: Moving from capture to curation

    Discover why intentional note-taking is crucial for meaningful academic work. Learn how being selective about what you record can create space for deeper engagement with ideas that truly matter, and explore practical steps for moving beyond comprehensive capture to more purposeful documentation practices.

  • Write so that you can’t be misunderstood

    If you’re like me, you probably spend a lot of your writing time trying to persuade; trying to convince the reader of some point or another. You’re intent on making sure the reader understands you. And this is fine. However, when you’re done writing to be understood, you could try editing your work with the…