First Steps in Improving Writing!

A Quick 6 Minute Read.

Writing is a craft. 

Every craft starts at hand, goes to your arm, and reaches your brain.

So, if you want to master the art, you must write. And write a lot.

And the next logical question is how do I improve? 

Here is the first step in upgrading your writing.  

Writing involves decisions. Lots of decisions.

What word to choose, comma, colon, semicolon, or period?

What is the heading?

Is it there, their or they’re? What’s the correct spelling?

And when decisions are involved, we can learn a lot from the masters of decision science.

Decisions are studied in behavior science. 

Gary Klein, a bevaior scientist in his book "Seeing What others don't" gives us a simple formula to improve our decisions. 

Simple. Reduce errors and increase insights. I am applying this to my writing. 

I looked at my recent writings done over last week. You can also do the same.

Read them intently. Ask buddy, friend to read. Get help from professional or online tools.

Split the errors into two categories.

One technique errors and two actual activity errors in writing.

Even 3 in each category is good enough to start with. 

I use Grammarly. Grammarly sends me weekly detailed reports of my writing.

I received very minimal feedback in the writing challenge I am participating in.

But I self-appraised and came with below errors.

This will be the first step in improving my writing. 

Technique Errors: 

1. Missing articles
2. Missing comma after the introductory phase
3. Incorrect punctuation
4. Formal Tone
5. And I struggle for "appropriate words"

Activity Errors: 

1. Failing to protect from interruptions. I get distracted while writing via phone, social media, and other thoughts. That's an internal trigger.
2. Not re-reading articles loudly. This is advised as a hack to improve writing.
3. Not having a work-flow for detailed editing. Like covering content, structure, style, and presentation edit.
4. Often overlook catchy heading or hook.

It is not that what we do is everything wrong.

We learn some good things over the years.

For improvement, we need to do them consciously, and more.

I have learned the following insights in my writing craft. 

1. Convoluted sentences are bad. I have developed an eye and I remove them
2. Cohesive and consistent paragraphs. Online posts have small paragraphs, but academic writing has a longer one. I re-read academic work for paragraphs.
3. Editing, revising is more important. Add time, and space in editing. I have learned this in hard-way. Now often I write one-day and edit the next day. It forms a part of my writing schedule. Ideally one should change the space too. So if writing is done in the study-room, editing should be done in the hall. But I am not following this religiously.
4. Cut mercilessly. Strunk and white in their classic “Elements of Style” have written, “Omit needless words”. I strive for it. For example, my blog post had 4253 words, I cut it down to 3200 words. Editors suggest a 15% cut in the first draft.

For honing my writing craft, I minimize errors and pursue insights.

Do you think this will polish my writing? Do give - feedback/comment.  

This is one way I chronicle my learning journey. Did you like it? 

Please drop a word. That will encourage me to post more on my writing journey. 

[Disclaimer: It’s my take on the first session of “Good with words” - course I am taking on Coursera] 

[Image Source: Wikimedia commons].

How to Write a Lot !

5 minute read - Book Review of "How to Write a Lot"

[Image Source : https://www.amazon.in/How-Write-Lot-Practical-Productive-ebook/dp/B001Y35G60 ]

In general writing productivity and particular academic productivity boils down to simply how much one can write & publish. The book “Write a Lot” by Paul Silvia addresses this issue and gives practical solutions. Book is prescriptive and is a quick read. I could complete it in one sitting on the weekend. Few nuggets from the book: 

·  It quoted William Zinsser, “If writing seems hard, it’s because it is hard. It’s one of the hardest things people do.”  Author provides ways to simplify it. He points that finding a block of time or waiting for inspiration is a catastrophic. Also he shuns the idea about writers block, particularly for academic writers. Writer’s block hits only those who believe in it.

·  First advice he gives is to make a schedule, allot a time and stick to it. Daily two hours or so. One must protect this writing slot ruthlessly. Build and get into the habit of writing. This is single most important take away from the book.

·   He suggests writing first and revising later. But just produce something in the allocated slot.

·  Author gives the example of, Trollope – who despite full time job at post office published 63 books. That’s stunningly productive. Trollope’s writing schedule included 3 hours of writing every day before breakfast. He wrote average 250 words in 15 minutes.  

·  Second advice author gives is about goal setting. Goals for every month and then goals for the particular day. He suggests writing the goal down. Stick to them and emphasizes monitoring. He also advises rewarding oneself after goal achievement. Full cycle of goal setting theory included.

·  Third advice author gives on agraphia (inability to write) is to form a support group. A small group of academic only (He advises separate group for doctoral scholars). Group should meet once a week and focus on writings of each one. He advises to confront anyone who is lacking in writing or goal completion. And provides some tactics to bring him in the habit of writing (first advice). This is a kind of constructive social pressure to maintain the habit.

· He demonstrates how single habit of regular writing can bring good balance in work and life.

·  Book also gives a list of reference books on style, grammar, punctuation and motivation.

·  There are dedicated chapters on style, journal article and book writing. But I didn’t find them much in sync with the book topic. May be just filler.

·  I read that the new edition of the book is published in September, 2018 -with added chapter. The one I read is an older edition.

Paul Silvia himself writes a lot, daily from 08:45 to 10:00 AM in mortifying location. Being a social psychology faculty, he has beautifully blended the scientific principles of habits, motivation, and way to maintain them in this behavioural prescription for poor writers. I am also getting in the habit of daily writing, but couldn’t form the support group yet.  

Finally the book is persuasive, quick and essential read for anyone who wishes to be a productive writer. I am looking forward to read another book from him on writing – it is specific on research or journal writing in psychology.