Category Archives: planning

when your writing plan gets stuck

There are load of reasons why planning doesn’t work. Life. Work. Other competing deadlines. Unexpected stuff. But sometimes our plans don’t come to fruition because of what we do. Or rather, what we don’t. And yes, maybe the problem is … Continue reading

Posted in being stuck, coach, free-writing, inner coach, planning, planning fallacy, stuck, writing group | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Planning and writing

When it comes to writing I’m definitely a planner. I like to show other people how to plan their papers too.  And the standard caveat before I begin. Of course my way is not the only way. This is A … Continue reading

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the planning fallacy and the PhD

Planning. We all have to do it to get by. A lot of us hate it. Many of us overdo it. Some of us are serial planners while others make a plan and then sigh as it slips past.  This … Continue reading

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setting goals – starting the PhD

If you’re just starting the PhD, you goal is to finish. Finish. Get it done. Get yourself across the stage to receive your testamur. Wear the floppy hat and gown. Change the signature on your email. Finally a Doctor. Makes … Continue reading

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2021 is nearly done – but 2022?

Living with Covd19 has not been the occasion for an unexpected and bonus writing retreat. Well, it might have been for a few. But for most people, working from home didn’t become the occasion for increased productivity. Many people had … Continue reading

Posted in planning, publication plan, routine, writing goals, writing routine | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

ruthlessly realistic with annual plans

Ah, another new academic year. Time to make plans. Take stock. Write goals. Start filling up the diary. Given the disruption we’ve experienced over the last eighteen months, it’s really tempting to think that it’ll be possible to get back … Continue reading

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planning a paper

Last week I was in Norway running a three part workshop on planning a journal article. The workshop was based around a Tiny Text abstract.   As a planner myself, I use Tiny Texts for sorting out the contribution argument … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, argument, contribution, journal article, planning, planning a paper, Tiny Text | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

a planner’s approach to the first draft

Writing a draft. Mmm. The word ‘writing’ suggests that all you have to do is sit down and type or scribble away. And lo and behold a text is born. But there are different pathways to writing a draft. Some … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, free-writing, looping, planning, planning a paper, poster, powerpoint, storyboard, storyboarding, Tiny Text, titles | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

writing thesis chapters? beware ‘blocky’ writing

It’s very common to read academic texts, particularly thesis chapters, which present themselves to the reader as a series of blocks of stuff. Each big block of stuff may well be divided up into smaller sub-headed blocks. This is not … Continue reading

Posted in backward mapping, blocky writing, chapter, outline by sentences, planning, planning a paper | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

starting the PhD – anticipate tasks and timings

It’s little tricky to write generic advice about the PhD. That’s because every PhD is unique, as is every doctoral researcher. Not only are there clear disciplinary differences in the ways in which PhDs are accomplished, but the methodological choices … Continue reading

Posted in PhD, PhD by publication, planning, research project, thesis | Tagged , , | 4 Comments