“It’s none of their business that you have to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way.”
—Ernest Hemingway
Writing is hard; there are no two ways about it. Starting a paper or narrative can be daunting. How should I start? What if it is not good? Will anyone want to read it? These questions arise even for accomplished writers. The best writers still work very hard at writing. In this blog, I share lessons I have learned during more than 30 years of writing in academic family medicine, along with resources I have found helpful. I encourage you to read these suggestions and share what works for you.
Find Time to Write and Block Your Schedule
It may seem like an oversimplification to say, “Just find the time to write.” We all know it can be difficult to fit writing into busy schedules filled with clinical, teaching, and administrative responsibilities. However, if you do not block time on your calendar to write, writing will continually be pushed to the bottom of your to-do list. You have to make the time to write.
In his 2009 article, “Tuesdays to Write,” Lowenstein describes restructuring his schedule so that his academic work occurred on Tuesdays, allowing him to carve out dedicated writing time each week.1 Some people write best early in the morning, whereas others are most productive late at night. For example, I write best early in the morning, whereas a colleague does their best writing at night. After 4 PM, my writing brain simply does not work.
Similarly, some people can write productively during a spontaneous 30-minute opening in their schedule, whereas others need at least a 2-hour block. Consider scheduling dedicated “writing time” on your calendar so other meetings are less likely to replace it.
Plan to Revise
“Almost all good writing begins with terrible first efforts. You need to start somewhere.”
—Anne Lamott, Bird by Bird
Becoming a good writer—or producing good writing—takes time, effort, and multiple revisions. In Draft No. 4, John McPhee describes routinely writing at least 4 drafts of every manuscript.2 By the fourth draft, the manuscript has usually become coherent enough to share with others. His process can be summarized as follows:
- Draft 1: Get something on the page.
- Draft 2: Develop your argument.
- Draft 3: Refine word choice and improve the flow of your argument.
- Draft 4: Polish the writing, use a thesaurus if needed, and read the manuscript aloud.
Ask for Feedback
Once you reach Draft 4, you are ready to seek feedback. Many authors submit manuscripts without asking colleagues or friends to review them first. Although the peer-review process provides valuable suggestions, colleagues often identify many of the same opportunities for improvement before submission.
There are several low-stress ways to receive feedback. An accountability partner or writing partner (eg, Prolific Partners) can be helpful. Writing groups are another excellent option because everyone shares their work, reducing the self-consciousness that often accompanies sharing your writing.
Reflect on Your Writing Process
Everyone writes differently, so there is no single perfect list of writing tips. Think about the times when you are most productive. Where were you? What time of day was it? What aspects of the setting contributed to your productivity?
Before I begin writing, I spend time thinking about how I want to structure the piece and how I want to begin. I create an outline, although it often resembles a stream of consciousness. Draft 1 is the hardest part for me because getting started is difficult. Once I have something on the page, revision becomes much easier.
Others find drafting easy but struggle with editing, searching endlessly for the “perfect” word. Still others never reach Draft 4 because they continually discover new ways to improve a sentence. Every writer is different.
Other strategies may also improve writing productivity. Consider working on 2 projects simultaneously. Pairing a small project with a larger one—or a challenging project with one you enjoy—allows you to switch between them and maintain momentum. Joining a writing challenge can also provide encouragement and accountability. Writing challenges vary in length, lasting anywhere from 1 week to 1 month, but they all encourage participants to write consistently each day.
The STFM community is filled with prolific, talented writers. What strategies have helped you develop your writing practice?
References
- McPhee J. Draft No. 4. Farrar, Straus and Giroux; 2017.
- Lowenstein SR. Tuesdays to Write: A Guide to Time Management in Academic Emergency Medicine. Acad Emerg Med. 2009.
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