Fight for the Write: Strategies for Scholarly Writing

No matter where you are on your graduate or postgraduate journey in higher education, the beginning of the academic term can prove to be a whirlwind as students, faculty and practitioners seek to undertake what is necessary for a successful year. For graduate students, this includes prioritizing your time to fulfill academic obligations in and out of the classroom, which often requires students to engage in scholarly writing at some point. Recently, the topic of scholarly writing surfaced during a conversation with a few of my graduate students, whom I teach once per week. As many of them were new to the graduate school environment, this was the first time that they were being required to write multi-page papers in APA 6th edition format, for multiple classes. One student in particular presented anxious as we covered the writing assignments for my class. He expressed that writing was not his strong suit, and he was aware that additional assistance would be needed. As I referred him to resources that could assist him, including the university writing center, I reflected on my own journey through graduate school, up to the completion of my dissertation, and beyond. One of my defining moments during the doctoral process was receiving some very direct feedback from one of my professors. Though seemingly crushing and critical in that moment, I soon realized that her evaluation of my writing was necessary to propel my work to the next level.

It has always been my  belief that scholarly writing is metaphorically, like a muscle, that has to be developed and then continually exercised for maximum effectiveness. If it is not maintained, atrophy can set in and the process must be restarted. I can clearly recall having somewhat of a hard time getting back into the groove of scholarly writing while attempting to complete my first writing assignment in graduate school, after taking a year-long break after graduating from my Masters program. Even after taking a much needed self-care break away from writing after the conclusion of my PhD, it was difficult to get the proverbial “ink” flowing again. Often during the dissertation writing process, Dr. Poole and I would vent of the stoic technicality that scholarly writing requires, and how we were anxious for the ability to write on our own terms. This may be why we both enjoy the freewriting style that accompanies blogging :). Although the process of producing a well-written document in graduate school can seem arduous, and even tedious at times, the more that this “muscle” is flexed, the easier the task becomes. Furthermore, the ability to synthesize and evaluate material in order to compose a quality academic paper is crucial to student achievement. The American Psychological Association (APA), whose 6th edition manual serves as the gold standard for formatting scholarly literature, offers us successful strategies that are useful for graduate students as well as postgraduates, concerning improving scholarly writing: 

• Protect your writing time.

  Block off a chunk of distraction-free time, daily or weekly, and commit to writing during that time. You should be firmly committed to this time and it should become habitual.

• Make concrete, achievable writing goals.
  Set small, achievable goals that will help to guide your writing time. Goals can range from the number of page numbers met, to completion of specific sections.Place visibly written goals in your writing space to remain accountable. 

• Make a priority list for writing tasks.
  Prioritize what assignments need to be completed first. This helps to ensure that both major and minor writing tasks are properly addressed. 

• Write and then revise.
  This often helps me to get my ideas written down, versus interrupting a potential flow to spend much of my time revising sentences for clarity. 

• Read extensively.
  It's difficult to write about concepts and theories that you have not grasped. Typically, I collect a copious amount of literature and seek to understand it before I proceed with writing about a particular topic. This helps to streamline the process and makes it easier to locate ideas and specific quotes within the literature.

• Get a group.
  In my opinion, this is one of the most pertinent and valuable strategies to be employed by a graduate student/postgraduate. Dr. Poole and I OFTEN allude to the fact that our survival while pursuing the doctorate, largely depended on our writing group. We often read what we wrote to each other to gain clarity, and bounced ideas off of each other. Having accountability partners also proved to be extremely crucial to motivation and completion. 

• Don't underestimate self-care.
  It is okay to take a break!!! You need a break!!! Even when the dissertation writing process got intense, I would take Tuesday evenings and Saturday evenings to rest and give my brain an opportunity to recharge. I made sure to catch up on all of my favorite movies and shows, go to dinner, or hang out with my friends during that time. Whatever self-care is for you, be intentional about it!

• Be confident in your ability to complete the task.
  Don't let imposter syndrome rear its ugly head. You deserve to be right where you are. Be confident in your capability to achieve and thrive!

• Remember why you do it: the bigger picture.
  Keep your eyes on the prize! When writing got tough and I wanted to complain (and quit) I recalled the reasons why I pursued graduate school in the first place, as well as the benefits that would accompany degree conferral. I would also visualize myself walking across the stage with the faint notes of “Pomp and Circumstance” wafting in the background (it is no secret that I love that song!). My intrinsic and extrinsic motivating factors proved to be enough to get me focused and keep me going. Remind yourself of why you started!

Additionally, I would offer that once you receive feedback on your writing, try not to take it personally. Your reviewer is simply editing a body of work that is not reflective of your intellectual capacity as a student/practitioner. It is difficult to grow without being challenged, so try to view feedback as a gift!  If more technical writing strategies are needed, I am a huge proponent of utilizing university writing labs and centers despite your level of expertise. As always, we would love to hear from our Ebonies on any strategies you employ that have helped to improve your scholarly writing. Drop us a line in the comments!