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Writing Skills for
#AcWriteFest15
Image CC BY 2.0 © Sean MacEntee http://bit.ly/1N3ymqR
Andy Tattersalla.tattersall@sheffield.ac.uk@andy_tattersallOrchid: 0000-0002-2842-9576
Objectives of the workshop
• Practical tips on how to get more from your writing
• How to manage your writing and research (reference management)
• Tools to help you take better notes• Tools to help you manage your tasks• Tools to help with digital distraction
*Not every solution will work for everyone
60 second challenge
Think about something you have got to write
What are the barriers to writing?
Image CC BY-NC 2.0 © hjl http://bit.ly/1Lvlzwi
Writing barriers
General procrastinationWriting environmentOther demands on your timeOther’s demands on your timeLack of confidence on the topic you are writing about
Image CC BY 2.0 © cheetah100 http://bit.ly/1h5JZ4w
“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.”
Mark Twain
Writing Bootcamp(How to write 10,000 words in one day)
1) Know what you are going to write before you write it
2) Set aside a protected time to write3) Feel enthusiastic about what you are writing
Thesis Bootcamp formula was developed by Liam Connell and Peta Freestone of the University of Melbourne.
Know what you are going to write before you write it
Make a map of what you are going to write - have all your subheadings ready
Make a mess - then clean it up
Set aside a protected time to write
Block out time in your diary - and stick to itFind colleagues or fellow students who struggle to write and form a peer writing groupFind a location where you will not be disturbed and where temptation to slack is minimal
Image CC BY 2.0 © Arjan Richter http://bit.ly/1XlXLSv
60 Second Challenge
Image CC BY 2.0 © Jussi Linkola http://bit.ly/1LZzFYt
The Pomodoro Technique
1. Decide on the task to be done2. Set the pomodoro (timer) to 25 minutes3. Work on the task until the timer rings4. Take a short break (5 minutes) then do
another burst5. Every four “pomodori” take a longer break
(15–20 minutes)
30:30 App
http://3030.binaryhammer.com/
Find a quiet focused place
Great places to go and write
Western Bank LibraryThe ICThe DiamondCafesThe garden (weather permitting)Public libraries
Give yourself permission to write away from your desk
Reward yourself
http://bit.ly/1Ypzs8A
The rules of Write ClubTurn up with a piece of work (does not have to be writing)
Set your goalsWork in silenceNo email/distraction Take a breakAssess your performanceRepeat as often as necessaryAnyone can attend
Image CC BY 2.0 © Veronica Aguilar http://bit.ly/1PcDCz8
Image CC BY 2.0 © All West http://bit.ly/1QE0g3s
Declutter
Mind Maps
Spend 10 Minutes creating a mind map for a piece of writing you need to do
Image CC BY 2.0 © Eelke http://bit.ly/1XlZ0kI
Tools to manage your writing
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Mendeley
Image copyright – Mendeley.com
Mendeley is a free reference manager and academic social network that can help you organize your research, collaborate with others online, and discover the latest research.Automatically generate bibliographiesCollaborate easily with other researchers onlineEasily import papers from other research softwareFind relevant papers based on what you’re readingAccess your papers from anywhere onlineRead papers on the go, with their iPhone app or the unofficial Android apps
•A web-based reference management system•Allows you to store references to books, book chapters, journal articles, websites, etc•Importing a reference can be as simple as a single click of your mouse•You can ‘tag’ references with keywords that will help you to retrieve them later•Allows you to both import to, and export from, traditional electronic reference management systems including Reference Manager and EndNote•Allows you to generate bibliographies in formats such as Harvard, Chicago, MLA and Vancouver
•Better still, Mendeley is a discovery tool and allows you to locate references that other users have found•You can keep your own references private or make them public for other users to access•Can be helpful in drawing attention to your own publications and any that are generated by your research project
What are the benefits?Primarily, Mendeley is a SHARED resource - all members of a research team can access it
Secondly, it is COLLABORATIVE - all the members of the research team can contribute their own knowledge and be involved in the information-gathering process
Thirdly, it is MOBILE - you can access your references from any place that has a computer and internet connection
Mendeley comes in three flavoursOff-line – downloadable software version
On-line Web based, social network, searchable database version
Mobile via Kindle, Android and IOS version
It is free…but you can pay for more38
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Creating your Mendeley profile should NOT be a distraction from writing
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RememberDownload the Mendeley Guidehttp://www.mendeley.com/downloads/Getting_Started_Guide.pdfDownload Mendeley onto your PCInstall the Web ImporterAdd the Citation button to WordTo sync your library!!!!!
Also.Try looking for peers/contacts/potential collaborators and them and their references!
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Stay FocusdAvailable on Chrome Web Store
Image CC BY 2.0 © Artondra Hall http://bit.ly/20cAhna
http://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-20609-7_68 [Last Accessed 28/10/2015]
Relax! You’ll Be More Productivehttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/relax-youll-be-more-productive.html?smid=tw-share&_r=1&
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/opinion/sunday/relax-youll-be-more-productive.html?_r=0 [Last Accessed 26/10/2015]
Useful meditation/mindfulness resources
• Headspace - Website. IOS, Android, Kindle App. iTunes. Book. Podcast free/subscription
• Take a Break (Guided meditations for stress relief) - IOS, Android App
• Calm - Website. IOS, Android App. Book• Buddhify - IOS, Android App
If you use them right
Other useful productivity tools
https://en.todoist.com/ Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web
https://www.wunderlist.com/ Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Web
https://www.rememberthemilk.com/ Windows, Mac, IOS, Android, Blackberry
• The effect of music listening on work performancehttp://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/LESIUKarticle2005.pdf• The Effect of Student Music Choice on Writing Productivity.http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED448472Music to work to – ScoopIt! Pagehttp://www.scoop.it/t/background-music
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