Head Space

Calm productivity for academics

Tag: drafting

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • The first draft isn’t the final product

    It’s worth noting that the first draft isn’t the final product. It’s the raw material you’ll shape into something better.

  • Writing generates writing

    Writing generates writing. Even if most of the early drafts end up getting deleted, you probably needed to write them to stimulate the thinking that was necessary to get to the final version.

  • Writing related activities also count as writing

    Discover why writing related activities like reading, annotating, editing, and organising are crucial parts of the writing process. Embracing these tasks can help you maintain steady progress on your academic projects, even when you’re not in the right frame of mind for generating new content.

  • Writing by hand

    When you write by hand your ideas spend more time in your short-term memory (because it takes longer to put the words onto the page). You may end up with a better first draft as a result.

  • Stephen King: On writing

    On Writing, by Stephen King, blends memoir and practical advice, giving writers a glimpse into the creative process while offering valuable tools. From embracing authentic voice to developing a daily writing routine, King’s insights help writers—especially busy academics—cultivate a productive, disciplined approach to their craft.