Effective Writing for Health Professionals: A Practical Guide to Getting Published

by Johnstone,Megan-Jane

• ISBN13: 9780415334471
• ISBN10: 0415334470
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2004-04-08
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Written by a best-selling academic author,Effective Writing for Health Professionalsprovides insights and strategies for publishing designed for nurses, midwives and health professionals.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xiii
1 Writing and publication in the health professions	1	(14)
The importance of writing for publication	2	(1)
The greatest stories never told	3	(2)
Hurdles to publishing	5	(3)
Publishing futures	8	(3)
Summary	11	(2)
Exercises	13	(2)
2 Getting started	15	(20)
Getting focused on achieving your writing goals	16	(3)
Choosing a topic	19	(2)
Choosing your audience	21	(1)
Choosing your publication outlet	22	(10)
Summary	32	(1)
Exercises	33	(2)
3 The writing process	35	(24)
The elements of style	36	(3)
The principles of style	39	(15)
The contrapuntal device	54	(1)
Drafting and redrafting	55	(2)
Summary	57	(1)
Exercises	58	(1)
4 The winning habits of successful authors	59	(32)
The will to write	59	(2)
Write about what you know	61	(1)
Write about what interests you	61	(1)
Keep a notebook	62	(1)
Practice writing	63	(2)
Make time	65	(5)
Develop a 'good' writing style	70	(1)
Read prolifically and attentively	70	(1)
Be an excellent researcher	71	(1)
Have a great filing system	72	(1)
Have a fabulous home library	73	(2)
Get feedback from others	75	(1)
Be a mentor and coach to yourself	76	(1)
Accept the rewards and punishments	77	(8)
Politics of envy	85	(1)
Be professional	86	(1)
Have a place to write	87	(1)
Develop momentum	88	(1)
Summary	88	(1)
Exercises	89	(2)
5 Producing a work	91	(34)
The active process of writing	92	(21)
General advice on producing a work	113	(9)
Summary	122	(1)
Exercises	123	(2)
6 Troubleshooting	125	(24)
Generating ideas	126	(2)
Overcoming writer's block	128	(1)
Dealing with procrastination	129	(1)
Benefits and challenges of co-authorship	130	(5)
Promises and perils of commissioned writing	135	(2)
Challenges of converting assignments and theses into publications	137	(4)
Preparing conference papers for publication	141	(1)
Making revisions	142	(1)
Spelling, grammar and other stylistic issues	143	(2)
Back-up copies	145	(1)
Lifestyle and finding a balance	146	(1)
Summary	147	(1)
Exercises	148	(1)
7 Promoting your work	149	(12)
Seminar and conference presentations	152	(2)
Utilisation of scholarship in education and professional practice development	154	(2)
Media publicity	156	(2)
Summary	158	(1)
Exercises	159	(2)
8 Author rights and responsibilities	161	(38)
Academic freedom	162	(4)
Ethical considerations	166	(11)
Legal considerations	177	(16)
Membership of writers' groups and associations	193	(4)
Summary	197	(1)
Exercises	198	(1)
9 Postscript: Why I write	199	(4)
Bibliography	203	(12)
Index	215	(8)
Author contact information	223