Write to the Top! How to Become a Prolific Academic

by Johnson, W. Brad; Mullen, Carol A.

• ISBN13: 9781403977427
• ISBN10: 1403977429
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2007-06-15
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan

Summary

This concise guide to writing is designed to help any academic become not only productive but truly prolific. It is a pithy, no-nonsense, no-excuses guide to maximizing the quality and quantity of scholarly output. Johnson and Mullenoffer an accessible overview of the art of writing efficiently and effectively, provide a one-stop source for the nuts and bolts of success in getting things written and into print, and advise academics on how to navigate the turbulent waters of professional stress along the way. This is the first book that explicitly summarizes the key elements of prolific productivity in academic settings.

Author Biography

W. Brad Johnson is Associate Professor of Psychology, Department of Leadership, Ethics, and Law, United States Naval Academy, and Faculty Associate, Graduate School of Business and Education, Johns Hopkins University. He is the author of The Elements of Mentoring (Palgrave, 2004). Carol A. Mullen is Professor and Chair of Leadership and Cultural Studies, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. xi
Preface	p. xiii
First, Establish a Well-Honed Writing Habit	p. 1
Write or Don't Write but Make a Decision	p. 1
Write as a Way of Life	p. 4
Write about What Compels You	p. 6
Take Control of Your Day	p. 8
Write Every Day	p. 10
Schedule Writing Blocks	p. 12
Capture Time by Writing in the "Gaps"	p. 15
Stay Home (or Locked in a Tower)	p. 17
Become Dogmatically Disciplined and Set Firm Boundaries	p. 23
Take Vows of Discipline and Delayed Gratification	p. 23
"Just Say No" to Competing Demands	p. 25
Rebuke the Demons of Service	p. 28
Connect your Writing to Teaching and Service	p. 30
Avoid the Factory Mentality and Lunch Crowd	p. 33
Demand Equity in Faculty Responsibilities	p. 36
Model Boundaries without Neglecting Students or Retreating	p. 40
Keep "To Do" Lists for Your Day, Year, and Career	p. 43
Cater to Your Writing Rhythms	p. 47
Discover Your Optimal Writing Time(s)	p. 47
When in the "Writer's Flow," Stay There!	p. 49
Honor Your Own Writing Rhythms	p. 51
Stimulate Brain Chemistry and Writing Efficacy	p. 55
Develop the Attitudes and Perspectives of a Prolific Writer	p. 59
Frame Productivity as a Professional Privilege	p. 60
Write to Thrive, Not Merely to Survive	p. 62
Be Patient as a Scholarly Writer	p. 64
Be Persistent as a Scholarly Writer	p. 67
Tolerate Rejection (and Learn from It)	p. 69
Learn Good Coping Skills as a Writer	p. 73
Take Time (But Not Your Writing Time) to Contemplate	p. 75
Know When to Collaborate and When to Cut Losses	p. 79
Find Supportive Colleagues and Critical Editors	p. 79
Collaborate Often but Selectively	p. 83
Carefully Structure Collaborative Projects	p. 87
Know When to Cash Out	p. 91
Practice Systematic Writing from Start to Finish	p. 95
Clean Your Desk and File Your Work	p. 96
Develop a Sound Writing System	p. 99
Choose the Journal (or Publisher) First	p. 101
Write Your Title Early	p. 104
Work on One Manuscript at a Time	p. 106
Generate Multiple Products When Possible	p. 109
Write Programmatically-Maintain a Focus	p. 111
Pick the Low-Hanging Fruit First	p. 114
Overestimate Time to Completion	p. 116
It's All about Quality (and Quantity Matters too)	p. 119
Revise, Edit, and Revise Some More	p. 123
Mediocrity is Not Allowed-Edit Yourself Thoroughly	p. 123
In Words, Practice Parsimony	p. 127
Return Revisions Immediately	p. 128
Seek Mentors, Mentoring Networks, and Writing Coaches	p. 133
Maximize Productive Mentoring Relationships	p. 133
When Seeking a Writing Mentor Be Selective	p. 136
Access Writing Coaches for Specific Concerns	p. 138
Use Mentors to Learn Academic Cultural Norms	p. 140
Not All Writers Benefit from Mentoring, Networking, and Coaching	p. 142
Tackle Thoughts and Emotions that Block Productivity	p. 145
Dispute Thoughts that Interfere with Writing	p. 146
Overcome Procrastination or Die Trying	p. 148
Reinforce Desired Behaviors	p. 150
Refuse to Dwell on Setbacks	p. 153
You Are a Writer, Writing is not You	p. 155
Master the Mechanics of Publication: What Publishers Want You to Know	p. 159
Solicit Feedback from Peer Readers and Proofreaders	p. 160
Target Your Manuscript to a Specific Journal or Publisher	p. 162
Carefully Prepare Your Manuscript	p. 165
Carefully Prepare Your Cover Letter and Summary	p. 168
Carefully Prepare Your Book Prospectus	p. 170
Communicate Clearly with Editors and Publishers	p. 174
Drink Deeply from the Cup of Life	p. 177
Connect Writing to Life and Life to Writing	p. 177
Practice Self Care and Healthy Habits	p. 180
Infuse Your Writing with a Guiding Philosophy	p. 183
Gracefully Weather Critical Life Events	p. 186
Adapt at Midlife (and Beyond)	p. 189
References	p. 195
Index	p. 197
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