How to Write a lot.pdf

How to Write a Lot (according to Paul Silvia) Eric Vanman Plug for the Book Available from APA Books for about $15 Confessional Time Do you write as much as you’d like? Why not? The point of this talk is not about the quality of your writing, but the quantity. Ask nearly any academic what they wish had they more time for (at work): WRITING But do we really not have the time, or are we just afraid to admit that writing is HARD? Paul outlines four “Specious Barriers” Specious Barrier #1 ? “I can’t find time to write” or“I would write if I ld j t fi d bl k fmore cou us n some oc s o time” This has been elevated to a guiding life theme for some people According to Silva, however, it’s really a false belief designed to give us comfort “Finding” the time? Do you have to “find the time” to teach? to tutor? to eat? Instead of “finding” the time, “allot” time to write (more on this later) But don’t be a binge writer! Binge Writing (Kellogg 1994) , After intending to write, procrastinating, and feeling guilty anxious about writing, you finally schedule a long day to write This helps you get a few pages done, but ’ ti th l f lisoon you re repea ng e cyc e, ee ng anxious guilty about your writing Scheduling regular writing avoids help you this problem Specious Barrier #2 ? “I d t d l fi t ” “I d t d f ti l ” nee o o some more ana yses rs , or nee o rea a ew more ar c es ? Your colleagues will believe you at first, suspecting that you are a perfectionist or an obsessive data analyst ? The truth: Binge writers are usually binge readers and binge statisticians as well. ? The solution: use your allotted writing time to also work on these “prewriting” tasks. Writing actually involves many essential components: lit reviews, stats, tracking down the actual procedures you used, etc. Specious Barrier #3 ? “To write a lot, I need a new computer,” also “a laser printer,” “a nice chair,” a new office” ? “In o