Obstacles to Academic Writing Dr. Steve Wallace

Inside and Outside Game of Writing  Inside game: our habits and motivations  Outside game: the techniques and strategies we use in writing.

What Stops Us from Writing?  I am really too busy. – 15 minutes a day  Teaching preparation takes all my extra time. Good teachers produce more writing (Sax, 2002).  I will write just as soon as______ - You don’t have to be perfect first.

What Stops Us from Writing?  I’m too depressed to write. – Triggered by continuous stress over time. Consider exercise or medicine.  I’m going to make writing my number one goal in life. “The most valued activity carries demands for time and perfection that encourages its avoidance” (Boice, 1997).  I couldn’t get to my writing site. – Become flexible with your writing environment.

What Stops Us from Writing?  I have to read just one more paper. - Mastery is an illusion, some of the best research is done in isolation.  I just can’t get started. - Reward yourself for writing. Phone or partner. Plan an agenda for the next writing session.  I’m afraid of writing because my idea is very controversial or emotional. - Consider alternatives.

What Stops Us from Writing?  I’m afraid of writing because publication is so permanent. - Peer review helps.  I’m not in the mood to write right now. Behavior modification theory.  My childcare responsibilities are preventing me from writing. – Use small, more efficient blocks of time; babysitters (Sax, 2002).

What Stops Us from Writing?  I really can’t move forward on this writing project. – Move to a different project.  I can’t write because my idea sucks. – Writing makes better ideas.  My thesis advisor is a bigger problem than a help. - Try writing without help first or change advisor.

What Stops Us from Writing?  I can’t sit still. - Short bursts with an alarm  I feel guilty about not writing. – Common problem  I write so slowly that I never seem to get much done. – Most people write slowly

What Stops Us from Writing?  If I have a long productive writing day, I have a hard time getting started the next day. Common problem  I know my writing habits are bad, but that’s just who I am. I can’t change. - Choose productive over unique  I am eager to write, but I don’t have the material or scrolling resources. – Third World countries  I have to make progress on several writing projects at one time and I am in a panic. – Two projects are better than one

What Stops Us from Writing?  I would love to ask someone to read and comment on my work, but everyone seems so busy and I don’t want to bother them. - Schedule time to read together  I’m beginning to wonder if being a professor is really the career for me. So what’s the point of writing? I probably won’t get a job anyway. – Teaching, writing, research, socializing, organizing, and discipline  I’m not smart enough for this kind of work. – Passion more important

What Stops Us from Writing?  I get distracted by Web surfing ing, and text messaging. – Disconnect yourself  It is so difficult to write in English. – Reading leads to better writing  I need big blocks of time to write, but my schedule doesn’t allow for such blocks. – Short and more productive blocks

Identify Your Own Writing Obstacles 

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