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How do you improve your scientific writing skills?
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What do you do to write better proposal, grants, and papers?
Do you think reading books about how to write scientific content is a good way to improve it?
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0x90
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up vote
2
down vote
favorite
What do you do to write better proposal, grants, and papers?
Do you think reading books about how to write scientific content is a good way to improve it?
publications writing-style science
asked 2 hours ago
0x90
5391413
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
up vote
2
down vote
favorite
What do you do to write better proposal, grants, and papers?
Do you think reading books about how to write scientific content is a good way to improve it?
publications writing-style science
asked 2 hours ago
0x90
5391413
What do you do to write better proposal, grants, and papers?
Do you think reading books about how to write scientific content is a good way to improve it?
publications writing-style science
publications writing-style science
asked 2 hours ago
0x90
5391413
asked 2 hours ago
0x90
5391413
asked 2 hours ago
0x90
5391413
asked 2 hours ago
0x90
5391413
asked 2 hours ago
0x90
5391413
5391413
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.
Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.
Some items to note:
- Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.
- Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.
- Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.
answered 2 hours ago
Vladhagen
4,07211736
Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
– 0x90
45 mins ago
I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
– Prof. Santa Claus
44 mins ago
@0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
– Vladhagen
28 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.
But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.
The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.
After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.
After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.
The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.
The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.
This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things
If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.
answered 15 mins ago
Buffy
18.5k560101
add a comment |Â
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.
Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.
Some items to note:
- Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.
- Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.
- Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.
answered 2 hours ago
Vladhagen
4,07211736
Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
– 0x90
45 mins ago
I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
– Prof. Santa Claus
44 mins ago
@0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
– Vladhagen
28 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.
Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.
Some items to note:
- Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.
- Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.
- Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.
answered 2 hours ago
Vladhagen
4,07211736
Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
– 0x90
45 mins ago
I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
– Prof. Santa Claus
44 mins ago
@0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
– Vladhagen
28 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.
Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.
Some items to note:
- Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.
- Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.
- Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.
answered 2 hours ago
Vladhagen
4,07211736
There are many ways that one can improve their scientific writing skills. Because humans learn in diverse ways, I do not know if there is one be-all-end-all solution for how to improve one's writing skills.
Two main methods that I have used (and still use) are (1) attending grant writing workshops, and (2) reading other published papers in my field and emulating their overall style. I am someone who learns by seeing and copying.
Some items to note:
- Quality scientific writing is rarely achieved by complexity of word choice and sentence structure. In fact, sometimes the best scientific writing is achieved by relative simplicity and clarity. You are not trying to wow people with your prose and poetic presentation.
- Quality scientific writing often has just as much to do with how you present something as it does with what you say. Observing required formats for the venue you are trying to publish in is rather critical. I once worked with a collaborator who routinely ignored our target journals' "Instructions for Authors." This made it very hard to produce quality writing with him because I was repeatedly having to parse down what he was saying into actual defined sections. Much of his writing was well done from a pure "English" standpoint; he just had no concept of venue specific format.
- Quality scientific writing is an art that is never completely learned.
answered 2 hours ago
Vladhagen
4,07211736
edited 1 hour ago
answered 2 hours ago
Vladhagen
4,07211736
answered 2 hours ago
Vladhagen
4,07211736
answered 2 hours ago
Vladhagen
4,07211736
4,07211736
Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
– 0x90
45 mins ago
I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
– Prof. Santa Claus
44 mins ago
@0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
– Vladhagen
28 mins ago
add a comment |Â
Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
– 0x90
45 mins ago
I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
– Prof. Santa Claus
44 mins ago
@0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
– Vladhagen
28 mins ago
Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
– 0x90
45 mins ago
Regarding the "instruction to authors" of journals. Usually you write the paper without knowing which journal it's really going to. Isn't it right?
– 0x90
45 mins ago
I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
– Prof. Santa Claus
44 mins ago
I would add: apart from basics such as grammar and good writing practices, see Chicago Manual of Style, one needs clarity. The best writers in my opinion have the ability to simplify complex concept into something simple or at the very least, break it down into manageable chunks. They tend to distil tonnes of info into a few key ideas/concepts. So the problem is not really about writing, but how to think.
– Prof. Santa Claus
44 mins ago
@0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
– Vladhagen
28 mins ago
@0x90 Yes and no. I usually had a specific journal in mind, then adapted as necessary. You don't write a 39 page paper when targeting a journal that usually publishes short papers. And most papers will have a general outline of Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
– Vladhagen
28 mins ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.
But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.
The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.
After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.
After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.
The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.
The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.
This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things
If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.
answered 15 mins ago
Buffy
18.5k560101
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.
But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.
The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.
After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.
After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.
The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.
The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.
This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things
If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.
answered 15 mins ago
Buffy
18.5k560101
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.
But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.
The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.
After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.
After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.
The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.
The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.
This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things
If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.
answered 15 mins ago
Buffy
18.5k560101
The way to learn to write is, simply, to write.
But then get feedback on your writing and re-write in light of the feedback.
The Software Patterns community has a process called Writer's Workshops that are quite detailed. When you submit a paper to a patterns conference you are assigned a Shepherd who is an experienced pattern writer, usually with knowledge of your field. The shepherd works with you (the "sheep") to improve the paper over three or four iterations of feedback-rewrite.
After shepherding your paper may be accepted to the conference, though not for presentation in the traditional sense. The conference consists of a set of writer's workshops in which a few (8-10) authors each have their papers discussed by the other participants while they listen and take notes. The author has a very small part in the workshop other than to think about what others suggest about how the paper can be improved.
After the workshop the author can ask questions, but never gets to "defend" the work. The idea is that if others misunderstand you then it is your job, not theirs, to fix it.
The paper is then revised one more time and it is this version that makes it in to the proceedings. The whole idea is to improve the print version, not present a version prepared without help.
The patterns community is pretty close knit because of this working together to improve one-another's work.
This process was brought to the software development community by Richard P Gabriel who is both a geek (Lisp et al.) and a poet. The same process is used by poets, in fact and is quite old. RPG has written a book on the process: Writers' Workshops & the Work of Making Things
If you don't have the patterns community behind you, or if you aren't writing patterns, it is relatively easy to set up a local writers workshop and follow the process. You can do this for any sort of writing as long as you have some people with domain knowledge and some writing experience.
answered 15 mins ago
Buffy
18.5k560101
answered 15 mins ago
Buffy
18.5k560101
answered 15 mins ago
Buffy
18.5k560101
answered 15 mins ago
Buffy
18.5k560101
18.5k560101
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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