TOP 10 SECRET TIPS:
AND THE REST OF THE STORY…
Pick Your Partner Carefully. The partner can be a colleague, significant other, mentor, student, friend, mime, a literate pet, or all of the preceding. It’s even better if both of you are struggling writers. Hunt down a partner like Dog the Bounty Hunter. However, before you proceed with adoption, you also might want to run a thorough background check on your candidates to make sure they don’t have rap sheets as long as your dream book or are currently listed on the international terrorist watch-list. Be careful.
You need someone who is dependable and committed to helping you dig out of your writing hole and sustain a regiment of regular writing. It approximates a “writing boot camp” to train you to write on your own. Once you’re ready to graduate camp with the usual mortar board and robe, you will be more prepared to fight your writing battles.
Commitment. The writer-partner showdown is what Simon & Garfunkel sang about: “Hello, darkness, my old friend.” As noted in Tip 10, you must commit to write in writing (What else?) with specific, realistic goals in daily and weekly “to-do” lists to make this work. Record how much time and what you write.
Your partner can reward your successes with celebratory activities or evil gifts, such as a hot fudge sundae (unless you’re still on Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig). He or she may also extinguish failure with severe beatings or grace. Be very selective in who you pick as your partner.
Writing Clubs. You can also seek out writing clubs or groups at your institution or through your professional association. There are also many online writing groups through LinkedIn and other networks. These groups may serve in lieu of or in addition to your accountability partner.
Whatever form of accountability you choose will be only as effective as your commitment to write. How serious are you about writing more and better? Only you can answer that. We both know you can do it.
HAVE A SPECTACULAR WRITING CAREER! Let me know if you have discovered another technique to improve your writing.
BTW I am in the process of revising this entire blog series to transform it into a journal article. It will be formatted a little differently, but will be easier to read, plus it won't appear in all of these dopey colors. Those professionals who do not read my blogs might glance at the article. Ya never know. I look forward to hearing how you did the same with your blogs or writing morsels. My blogs turned out to be drafts for the article, which, of course, is also a draft right now. Have a wonderful weekend!
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
TOP 10 SECRET TIPS:
AND THE #1 SECRET TIP FROM THE HOME OFFICE IN KODIAK, AK, IS
1. FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER OR WRITING GROUP. If there was a single best strategy to increase writing productivity, this is the one I would recommend. If accountability works for weight loss and drug rehab, it must be effective in other applications. RIGHT?
Where’s the Research? Research by Boice (1989) found that writers who wrote daily (Tip 10), kept records of their writing time (Tip 10), and had an accountability partner produced 9 times more than those who were left to their own devices. There is also plenty of anecdotal evidence. Of course, some of us gain the weight back or backslide into our old habits or other meds, but that’s another story. The consequences of not writing can just get you fired.
Side Effects. Accountability can really boost your productivity, unless you’re a chronic liar, but then you will have more serious issues than writing. It’s an extrinsic motivator and, as such, can also elevate your guilt levels through the roof if you don’t meet your goals. Remember the weigh-in at Weight Watchers? “No.” That’s good.
Meeting Times. If you have difficulty hunkering down to write daily or anytime, one of the best “carrots” or “Snickers” candy bars to drive you to write is an accountability partner. You should report to your partner at the end of each week or another mutually-agreed upon regular time. REGULAR meetings is an essential ingredient of this arrangement. If meetings start dwindling, so will your writing. Don’t dwindle.
Tomorrow is finale day for this series with the rest of the “accountability” story, plus a surprise ending!
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
TOP 10 SECRET TIPS:
2. MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS. Wherever you choose to write—and now you have a long list of options from Tip 9—turn off your cell phone and all electronic equipment before take-off…WAIT! You’re not on an airplane. Oops. Sorry. I meant turn off e-mail and order a “cease and desist” on people you know, pets licking your feet, kids grabbing at your clothes, Keith Lockhart (with guest artist Yo-Yo Ma) and the Boston Pops, and any other distractions, if possible. Writing can be challenging by itself. Ideal writing conditions are a luxury most writers can't afford most of the time. You can only control so much.
Don't Fluster. Don’t let interruptions derail your thoughts or fluster you. You look a little flustered right now. Unfluster. Make every effort to concentrate and stay focused on the task at hand. Be flexible and adapt to your writing surroundings. Don’t be tempted by the distractions. Block them out and stop flustering.
Conquer Public Distractions. The more you write in public venues, such as the ones on that long list, the better you become at concentrating on your writing. Right now I’m writing this blog in the Minneapolis airport with constant announcements blaring on the intercom, phones ringing or playing songs, blenders blending at the Starbucks near my make-shift office table, people talking loudly, and toddlers screaming. Under these airport conditions, you have few options and almost no control over the distractions.
Of course, if you are a member of 1st class elite airline club with a much quieter lounge, you’re all set to write during your flight layovers. Otherwise, do your best to deal with the distractions, focus on your writing, and stop wasting time reading my blog. You can do it!
My final blog in this excessively long-winded series will present Tip 1: find an accountability partner. It’s probably the most effective way to increase your writing productivity.
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
WHY WRITING?
I receive occasional requests from junior faculty and students, usually on my LinkedIn professional network, for tips on writing and publishing. It seems everybody has to write, especially professsionals in all fields. No one can escape. Writing-wise, it’s kinda like “No Professional Left Behind!.” People are talking less and texting and typing on social media networks more than at any time previously. They’re writing more, but not necessarily at a high level of quality.
Just about everybody (meaning, colleagues) I talk to about writing has problems writing. Most are not satisfied with the quality and/or quantity of what they write. They feel they can produce more and always do it better. But it’s tough to do.
There are buckets of books, online writing groups (academic and nonacademic), workshops, and other resources that can help you in your writing quest. So why do I need to throw my blog into the writing ring? Because I know you love my metaphors and I might be able to contribute some new tidbit of advice that might shoot your writing to levels beyond your wildest imagination, or maybe not. I thought I’d give it a whirl, plus, my blogs are free and occasionally funny. The other options are neither.
WHAT THIS BLOG DOES NOT COVER
If you’re interested in publishing pointers, fawgettaboutit. Two previous blog series dealt with writing and publishing for professional journals (4/22—5/9/10) and books (9/18—10/5/09). This blog is also not about grammar and mechanics. Spelchek and copy editors do a great job with that.
WHAT THIS BLOG COVERS
It’s about strategies to improve the quality and quantity of what you write professionally, but also personally. It doesn’t matter whether it’s a research, theoretical model, lit review, historical, commentary, or even murder mystery piece, OR a blog, e-mail, social media comment, article, chapter, or book. These are generic suggestions that work, I think.
TOP 10 SECRET TIPS PREVIEW
Here’s the list that will be addressed in the next few blogs:
10. WRITE EVERYDAY
9. WRITE EVERYWHERE YOU CAN
8. WRITE FOR A NICHE
7. WRITE WITH A PURPOSE AND OUTCOME IN MIND
6. WRITE ON TOPICS ABOUT WHICH YOU ARE PASSIONATE
5. ADOPT A MENTOR OR COACH TO REVIEW DRAFTS
4. THINK DRAFT
3. PROOFREAD THOROUGHLY
2. MINIMIZE DISTRACTIONS AND INTERRUPTIONS
1. FIND AN ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER OR WRITING GROUP
Read any, all, or none of the upcoming blogs on these tips. If you just get 1 or 2 ideas from this series, it will have been a total waste of my time. I’m shooting for 3. Let me know my hit rate and any comments or suggestions, as usual. My next blog will examine how to WRITE EVERYDAY.
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
DISCLAIMER: You know I’m not a techy. So why am I writing blogs on this topic? First, if I don’t know some of this Web terminology, maybe there are few of you who don’t either. Also, writing about topics I know nothing about helps me grow. I grow inaccurately, but I grow. Actually, I can still read and write and I know you will correct me if I’m wrong. I have your built-in accountability. This is another Berk’sNotes® version on the subject of Web terminology.
Berk’sNotes®
If you’re not familiar with Berk’sNotes® from my Thirteen Strategies… book and previous blogs, here’s a definition:
Berk’sNotes® = In the spirit of CliffsNotes®, it is an abbreviated version or brief synthesis of the most salient information or critical elements of a given topic. It’s designed for people like you who don’t have the time or inclination to do that synthesis yourself.
MOTTO: “I synthesize the stuff so you don’t have to.”
WHAT HAPPENED TO WEB 1.0?
What did I miss? I honestly don’t even remember Web 1.0. Maybe I experienced what is known as the “Rip van Winkle Effect” or amnesia, or I’m just out of touch. Did you hear about 1.0 before 2.0? It’s probably just me. Maybe I was living in a storm drain at the time.
Anyway, the goal of these blogs is to set me straight and clarify what these terms mean so we can think about how the various tech tools can be leveraged in the classroom and our lives. If you’re interested in all of the sources on this topic, just Google the numbers in the title and the sources cited in my blogs.
Right now, I think we’re into Web 2.0 world, or, maybe, 3.0. I’m not sure. Maybe this blog will get us both up to speed. You probably have an inkling about these numbers. I used to have inklings, but they cleared up with a topical medication. I’m going to try and level our keyboards and inklings on Web 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0. Hang on. My next blog will examine Web 1.0.
COPYRIGHT © 2010 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
7 Steps to Overcome Procrastination
As a follow-up to the previous blog, here is a description of the 7 steps:
1. Identify the source of the problem―Pinpoint the one or more causes from the preceding list that you feel are creating your procrastination.
2. Break down your tasks into subtasks—Write down the specific tasks that you are avoiding (see list of tasks in previous blog). Reduce the tasks to small, manageable subtasks that seem reasonable. Seeing these tiny chunks as molehills rather than as mountains can break the inactivity-avoidance cycle.
3. Apply the “Swiss Cheese Method” (Alan Lakein)―When a project appears overwhelming or boring, poke holes in it. Do the easy, small tasks that take only a few minutes first. Continue to poke until most of the work is done. Keep poking and poking. The completion of all of the holes and poking will motivate you to take on the tougher, more complex tasks that remain.
4. Focus on the outcomes and deadlines―Set attainable deadlines in your “to-do” list consistent with the real deadlines of the tasks. Express the tasks as outcomes to be finished within the time blocks. For example, state “draft main headings of article” instead of “write article.” Be specific and realistic with each task so you don’t backslide into avoidance behavior again.
5. Review your daily, weekly, and semester schedules regularly―Make sure your short-term tasks and deadlines are on target with your long-term deadlines. Make adjustments daily to stay on course. Pace yourself for the whole semester; don’t crunch tasks together in tight timeframes which you may not be able to complete. Been there, done that. Don’t drift back into your old behaviors.
6. Find an accountability partner—Choose a close buddy, colleague, or family member to whom you can report your successes and failures at the end of each week. The fear of embarrassment from not fulfilling the commitments on your “to-do” list can provide an additional incentive to stay on task and meet your deadlines. Fear of embarrassment will replace fear of failure. The former type of fear can improve your productivity; the latter can paralyze it.
7. Reward yourself for small and large victories—Celebrate your wins. Reward the new you for overcoming your procrastination. The preceding steps represent a time management makeover of you. That’s a significant achievement by itself.
I hope these suggested strategies are useful. Let me know your reaction.
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC & Coventry Press
Causes of Procrastination
What are the most common causes of procrastination? Fear of failure is frequently the primary cause. Tasks that seem difficult or overwhelming can be the objects of this fear. Rather than trying to tackle them, you just push them aside and avoid them altogether. Once this procrastination begins with one task, such as writing an article, it can become a cycle that’s repeated with other similar tasks, such as writing reports, grants, etc. It will be increasingly difficult to break this cycle. In writing, for example, “writer’s block” becomes the rationalization or justification for procrastination in any writing project. It legitimizes the procrastination.
In addition to failure, the literature identifies other possible causes:
• Fear of rejection, responsibility, criticism, disappointing others, imperfection, making a mistake, change, inadequacy, or success
• Feeling overwhelmed
• Desire for attention
• Boring or difficult tasks
• Resentment
• Unclear goals
7 Steps to Overcome Procrastination
The challenge is how to regain control and conquer the tasks that produced your procrastination. Here are seven steps you can try:
1. Identify the source of the problem
2. Break down your tasks into subtasks
3. Apply the “Swiss Cheese Method”
4. Focus on the outcomes and deadlines
5. Review your daily, weekly, and semester schedules regularly
6. Find an accountability partner
7. Reward yourself for small and large victories
My next blog will describe these 7 steps. I hope this is helpful to you or a friend who could use a bit of guidance to snap out of a procrastination rut. Let me know your thoughts. Have you tried any techniques not listed above that have worked? Please share.
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC & Coventry Press
