Note: I'm in the process of reconstructing several older posts after a data breach. My site was hacked in a ransomware attack, and I discovered that I had failed to back up 3-4 posts written in relatively rapid succession between June 1 and August 1, 2019. It isn't my goal to rewrite every post but to create at least a brief stub for the posts that were erased, especially in the unlikely event that someone has bookmarked and old post and is trying to revisit it. This message is meant to serve as an explanatory placeholder as I put everything back together as well as I can. In the mean time, feel free to shoot me an email if you're looking for a specific post. Thank you for your patience.
In the first version of this post, I described what I thought were some beneficial takeaways of Paul J. Silvia's How to Write a Lot. Some of those lessons include:
- Big Theme Number 1: Silvia argues against the idea that it’s hard to “find time to write.” He recommends setting aside the time, writing during that time, and not thinking about your writing at other times (12). Related, he argues against the idea that we will have time to write when we “clear the decks.” He writes, “‘Clearing the decks’ is mental alchemy: We transmute the lead of procrastination into the gold of efficiency. But let’s be candid with ourselves … we’re just procrastinating” (26). Along similar lines, “You don’t need a sabbatical” (106).
- Big Theme Number 2: Silvia argues forcefully against the binge writing mentality. Many academic writers were, of course, rewarded at every level for being binge writers, but incremental workers write more and are better able to find time to write, even when other obligations loom heavy. Silvia adds that people who write regularly generate more creative ideas, which dispels the excuse, “I’m waiting to be inspired” (22).
- Big Theme Number 3: Silvia eludes in several places to the idea that perfectionism is the root of much misery. He emphasizes that academic writers should “write first, revise later” (73). Similarly, “rejection is a fact of academic life that we must accept” (94).
Additionally, Silvia has advice for writing cover letters, responding to page proofs, and submitting journal articles. The book is well worth reading if you are an academic who is about to launch a book project, but it's a generally good read if you struggle to prioritize your writing.