Thread by @raulpacheco

First of all, you may have noticed I did not have a "Reading Notes" blog post of @biblioracle 's excellent book, "The Writer's Practice", which I HAVE read, recommended numerous times AND tweeted about. I think I never got around writing that post, which I'll do now.

https://twitter.com/raulpacheco/status/1136620269001486337

I have become a MUCH better writer by PRACTICING WRITING.

I write a metric ton of text.

I write a blog. I write journal articles, book chapters, and I'm writing three books (don't ask, I'm just... unable to say "no" to interesting opportunities).

I have explained before...

... that I firmly believe we can ALL develop A WRITING PRACTICE.

In order to learn how to develop a system to regularly produce text, you DO need guidance. The books I'm going to write about and the posts I'm going to link to will explain how to develop this writing practice.

Now, you may ask me "Professor Pacheco-Vega, HOW EXACTLY DO I DEVELOP A WRITING PRACTICE?"

Well, I have some guidance on my blog, which I'll link in a few tweets, but first of all, I seriously believe you need to read and peruse "Writing Practice Developmental Books" .

For several of the volumes I am going to tweet about, I've written and posted Reading Notes on my blog raulpacheco.org/resources/read…

Recently, I developed a typology of books that help you hone your writing skills (see: raulpacheco.org/2020/09/a-typo…)

On to the list...

Obviously "The Writer's Practice" by @biblioracle. Easily my top recommendation for as "Writing Practice Developmental Book"

Then, I would recommend @WendyLBelcher 's "Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks". I recommend the SECOND edition, though I wrote about the first ...

... edition on my blog: raulpacheco.org/2018/01/writin…

I was one of the academic reviewers for Dr. Belcher's 2nd edition (you'll see my name mentioned throughout the book!) so I know the improvements she made to the first edition and can't recommend it enough.

At the same level, I very strongly recommend @ThomsonPat and Barbara Kamler's "Writing for Peer Reviewed Journals" raulpacheco.org/2018/08/writin…

Thomson and Kamler develop the concept of "Tiny Text" that allows you to build a writing practice by producing "Tiny Texts" all the time.

Patricia Goodson's "Becoming an Academic Writer" is chock-full of great, sequential exercises to help you go from Zero to Hero (well, probably not that far, but you get my drift).

raulpacheco.org/2017/07/becomi…

So here's where the advice is going to become a tad mixed.

The books I mentioned before sort-of assume that you have the motivation to develop a writing practice (and that you need little inspiration, but more you need to do A LOT of perspiration and get words on screen).

If you are de-motivated and need both inspiration AND tools...

... then I believe I can recommend two books.

First, @jolijensen 's excellent "Write No Matter What" will get you out of the writing rut by giving you the peace of mind of allowing yourself to engage low-stakes-only with a writing project that you like.

raulpacheco.org/2018/03/write-…

Second, I believe @ANNELAMOTT 's excellent "Bird by Bird" will inspire you and gently nudge you to sit down and get some words on paper (or screen).
raulpacheco.org/2020/09/bird-b…

In the end, everyone who writes about writing will agree on one thing regarding writing practices:

1) Writing practices are developed slowly and incrementally
raulpacheco.org/2017/11/acwrim…

2) It's better to start slowly (125 words, 15 minutes)
raulpacheco.org/2018/04/125-25…

3) You may need external motivation to start your writing practice raulpacheco.org/2016/10/using-…

4) Routine helps develop a writing practice (even if you write only one day a week, make it part of your system)
raulpacheco.org/2020/06/on-the…

5) Remaining close to your writing may help you strengthen your practice, even if you only simply open the working document regularly. raulpacheco.org/2020/04/stayin…

6) Developing a writing practice requires strategy - you're here for the long haul. raulpacheco.org/2017/07/four-s…

7) Adapt other's writing strategies, recommendation and practices as you develop your own. Learn from what others are doing.
raulpacheco.org/2017/07/four-s…

8) Small writing goals help build confidence AND a writing practice raulpacheco.org/2017/12/a-diff…

9) Writing emails about research, reading, EVERYTHING counts as writing. Don't discount text - even if it doesn't go into your paper/book, it's still valid.

raulpacheco.org/2016/03/what-c…

10) Reading IS writing. You can't develop a writing practice without developing a READING practice first. raulpacheco.org/2018/01/legiti…

11) Being structured MAY help you strengthen your writing practice. raulpacheco.org/2018/11/develo…

12) You may feel like you spend more time "on the runway" or "doing grunt work" than "actually writing". Time investments in each of these categories (grunt work, runway and writing) is important to develop a writing practice.

raulpacheco.org/2020/05/a-typo…

</END THREAD>

NEW BLOG POST: How to develop a writing practice II: 12 tips to help you start, develop and hone your writing craft raulpacheco.org/2020/09/how-to…

In which I summarize years of learning about producing good prose in order to help you develop your own writing practice. #AcWri #AmWriting