In my last blog post, I talked about how this year is the perfect time for academics to improve and invest in their writing because right now, great academic writing stands out more than ever before.
But before you go drawing up an ambitious 72-point plan and detailed checklists for all the writing you’ll do and submit this year, take a pause. We are (as discussed in the previous post) living and working in the midst of vast and volatile changes. So not only is it perfectly okay to not make a rigid and detailed plan, but it might even be a waste of your precious time and energy to do so. That’s because the most important factor in surviving and thriving through transformation isn’t control, it’s commitment.
Commitment to your goals.
Commitment to your message.
Commitment to yourself.
You don’t actually need that 72-point plan to make major headway on the important writing goals you might have this year. Instead, you just need a basic guiding framework for yourself that answers 3 questions:
Why?
How?
When?
1. Why do you want to improve your writing?
This will be the most important question you answer. Without a strong “why,” it’s hard to be truly committed. Conversely, with a powerful “why” you have an unfailing anchor when the transformation gets stormy. It’s why people who experience a medical scare are far more likely to commit to and sustain a long-term change in their health than those who try to change their habits for appearance-related reasons or to conform to perceived societal pressures. So what makes for an iron-clad “why”? One that’s grounded in “I want” or “I would love” rather than “I should” or “I have to.” In fact, without a strong “why” you probably should give up, because you’re diverting your precious time and energy away from those things that actually matter to and energize you—which is, in essence, a recipe for burnout.
2. How will you actually improve your writing?
Will you find and invest in a professional editor for the manuscript with the most riding on it? Join a supportive workshop? Take a class or seminar? Devote 2 hours a week to reading and emulating outstanding examples of writing in your field? In other words, outline the next one or two concrete steps you’d like to take in this direction and put deadlines on them (“I will join that workshop tomorrow and I’ll finish Academic Writing for Graduate Students by Sunday night”).
3. When will you work on improving your writing going forward?
Stick some broad target dates on your “how” steps; on a day-to-day basis, this level of planning will keep you making consistent progress. Don’t make this projected timeline so detailed and rigid that it feels more like a prison than a guiding light—you want to feel inspired and motivated (“Oh wow, I’ll be all done and submitting that draft to AMJ by May 1, how exciting!”) rather than overwhelmed and micro-managed.
When answering this third question, keep in mind that we can really only pursue and prioritize 2–3 things (max) at any given time. A personal crisis counts as at least one of those things. A relationship that needs special attention counts as one of those things. Caregiving definitely counts as one of those things. So don’t forget to account for those personal priorities and commitments as you budget your time for your writing-related goals.
Finally, make sure you answer all 3 of the above questions in writing—ideally the old-fashioned way, with pen and paper—since neuroscientific research shows that writing down goals means you’re far more likely to achieve them. Congratulations! You’ve now got your framework for making real progress in what is arguably the most significant aspect of your academic career.
Need some help drafting your answers, or some input on a critical piece of writing? Please don’t hesitate to reach out—my team and I are here to help in any way that we can.
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