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Classic style: A cure for stale academic writing
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.
Understanding your audience: Write what the reader needs
Great writers are good at understanding their audience. They know what the reader needs, and focus their writing on that need.
Writing to understand
Writing is the process by which you realize that you do not understand what you are talking about. Importantly, writing is also the process by which you figure it out. Farnam Street. Why Write?
Generative AI and writing first drafts
Generative AI can can help get you started on your first drafts in a few seconds by putting words around your ideas.
Increase your writing output with distraction free text editors
Regular short bursts of writing with distraction free text editors will add up over time more than more sporadic long sessions.
I don’t know what I think until I write it
Most productive writers share the feeling that the first draft (and most of those that follow) is an opportunity to discover what they have to say and how they can best say it. Donald Murray (1973). The maker’s eye: Revising your own manuscripts. I usually don’t know what I think until I write out. It’s…
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.
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.
Using Obsidian for academic writing
In this video I explain how I use Obsidian to support and enhance my process of academic writing and creative idea generation.
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.