Category Archives: routine

writing a lot – starting the PhD, and finishing it

When you write, you must write a lot, but that does not mean you will publish a lot, which means that when you are writing, or when you have finished writing, it might be that no one knows that you … 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

starting the PhD? 25 things to consider

Are you just starting a PhD? Worried? Excited? Nervous? Fear not.:There’s lots of support and help available to you. Your institution is likely to provide an induction programme where you’ll find out about all the internal procedures and timelines you … Continue reading

Posted in academic writing, reading, reading routine, routine, starting the PhD, writing regularly, writing routine, writing to learn | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

lockdown writing routines – a.k.a a cheer for the humble pear

Most creative writers have their own idiosyncratic set of rituals and routines. Academic writers do too. But at least some of these practices may have had to change during WFH – working from home – during the various lockdowns. While … Continue reading

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grow your own writing practice

You often hear writing described as a skill. And a skill is the capacity to do something well, to use expertise built up through practice. Skills are often seen as merely technical, but a skill requires specialist knowledge and often … Continue reading

Posted in artisan, connoisseur, PhD, practice, reading, routine, starting the PhD | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

book interlude – girls interrupted

One of the big challenges in the way that Barbara and I write together is that it is episodic. Because we live in different parts of the world, we physically manage to get together only two or three times a … Continue reading

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reflection on writing – or – Pavlov’s dog rules

I’m sure we all know the story of Pavlov’s dog. It learnt to salivate at the sound of a metronome/bell. Poor little sod kept on thinking the noise heralded dinner, which it did – but only some of the time. … Continue reading

Posted in chunking, reward, routine | Tagged , , | 4 Comments