Let's talk about writing.
Back when I did that "top five" thing, @LMRodriguez asked me for my top five writing tips.
Because I was moving through the list quickly, I responded with this:
Because I was moving through the list quickly, I responded with this:
But in the spirit of writing and rewriting, I'm going to edit and expand those remarks.
And hopefully, other people will chime in with their own thoughts.
So ...
And hopefully, other people will chime in with their own thoughts.
So ...
1. READ AS MUCH AS YOU CAN
The best way to improve your own writing is to read as much as you can from other authors. Not just the great books, either. You can pick up good habits in reaction to bad writing, too.
The best way to improve your own writing is to read as much as you can from other authors. Not just the great books, either. You can pick up good habits in reaction to bad writing, too.
And don't just read narrowly in your own sub field, or even in your own discipline.
Historians should read novelists, not just for prose but for plotting and pacing.
Historians should read novelists, not just for prose but for plotting and pacing.
Maybe this section works as a mystery, with slow build up and then a reveal?
Maybe that chapter needs the tension of an upstairs-downstairs plot?
Does this political tale need the grandeur of a heroic battle, or the intimacy of a flawed character study?
Maybe that chapter needs the tension of an upstairs-downstairs plot?
Does this political tale need the grandeur of a heroic battle, or the intimacy of a flawed character study?
2. WRITE AS MANY WAYS AS YOU CAN
This advice will come too late for more advanced scholars, but if you're in college and just starting out -- try your hand at as many different kinds of writing as possible.
This advice will come too late for more advanced scholars, but if you're in college and just starting out -- try your hand at as many different kinds of writing as possible.
When I was in college, in addition to my classwork, I wrote for the campus newspaper and took a lot of creative writing poetry courses.
Now, I was a *horrible* poet. But I learned a whole lot about word choice, structure, meter, rhyme and rhythm along the way.
Now, I was a *horrible* poet. But I learned a whole lot about word choice, structure, meter, rhyme and rhythm along the way.
3. COMPLEX THOUGHTS NEED CLEAR LANGUAGE
I've written this a thousand times on undergrad papers, but it's a lesson that could be learned by some grad students and senior scholars too.
You're trying to persuade readers with your argument, not impress them with your thesaurus.
I've written this a thousand times on undergrad papers, but it's a lesson that could be learned by some grad students and senior scholars too.
You're trying to persuade readers with your argument, not impress them with your thesaurus.
Avoid jargon whenever possible.
There are certain terms that are vital to a field, but if they're not readily understood by non-specialists, neither will your argument. Break it down for them.
There are certain terms that are vital to a field, but if they're not readily understood by non-specialists, neither will your argument. Break it down for them.
There's a reason newspaper editors often tell op-ed writers to imagine they're writing for an audience of "intelligent non-specialists."
I wrote every line of my dissertation with two people in mind -- my dissertation director and my mom, a high school graduate.
I knew that if I could craft a history that met his high standards but was accessible and understandable to my mom, then I'd have done it right.
I knew that if I could craft a history that met his high standards but was accessible and understandable to my mom, then I'd have done it right.
4. WORD CHOICE MATTERS, BUT SENTENCES DO TOO.
Too often, academics hear their writing as they imagined they wrote it, and not thinking about how it sounds to someone approaching them fresh.
This is why I always tell students to read their work aloud.
Too often, academics hear their writing as they imagined they wrote it, and not thinking about how it sounds to someone approaching them fresh.
This is why I always tell students to read their work aloud.
Sentence structure matters here.
I often read work that's a mass of uniform sentences styles and length, but writers have to remember they're not just providing the lyrics of a song, but the music that will accompany it.
I often read work that's a mass of uniform sentences styles and length, but writers have to remember they're not just providing the lyrics of a song, but the music that will accompany it.
There's a popular quote by Gary Provost that gets this point across well: 
5. PACE YOURSELF
It's easy to get overwhelmed by the larger process of writing an article, a dissertation or a book, so think about the big picture first and then focus in on one sentence, then one paragraph, then one section. One at a time.
It's easy to get overwhelmed by the larger process of writing an article, a dissertation or a book, so think about the big picture first and then focus in on one sentence, then one paragraph, then one section. One at a time.
Some grad students follow the model of my brilliant colleague Tony Grafton by setting a minimum word limit to hit each day, but I learned a long time ago that I'm no Tony Grafton. (You may be, though. Have at it!)
But yes, write something each day.
Some days it flows effortlessly and I can crank out five to ten solid pages.
Some days I struggle over a single sentence, but if I finally get it right, that's enough.
Some days I realize I just have to walk away.
Some days it flows effortlessly and I can crank out five to ten solid pages.
Some days I struggle over a single sentence, but if I finally get it right, that's enough.
Some days I realize I just have to walk away.
But the writing is only the beginning.
That "write drunk, edit sober" line attributed to Hemingway might be apocryphal, but it has the stress in the right place. Editing and rewriting are the key to the whole thing.
That "write drunk, edit sober" line attributed to Hemingway might be apocryphal, but it has the stress in the right place. Editing and rewriting are the key to the whole thing.
And this can be, and should be, a collaborative process. Whether it's presenting in formal workshops or sharing drafts with a friend, get some fresh eyes on your writing whenever you can.
And, this should go without saying, but you should be circulating your *worst* material, the stuff you need the most help on. You're not trying to show off, you're asking for help. We all need it.
