How to Write a Lot
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Synopsis
All students and professors need to write, and many struggle to finish their stalled dissertations, journal articles, book chapters, or grant proposals. Writing is hard work and can be difficult to wedge into a frenetic academic schedule. In this practical, light-hearted, and encouraging book, Paul Silvia explains that writing productively does not require innate skills or special traits but specific tactics and actions. Drawing examples from his own field of psychology, he shows readers how to overcome motivational roadblocks and become prolific without sacrificing evenings, weekends, and vacations. After describing strategies for writing productively, the author gives detailed advice from the trenches on how to write, submit, revise, and resubmit articles, how to improve writing quality, and how to write and publish academic work.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Paul Silvia is a prolific academic psychologist, so the advice herein is not to be sniffed at (the examples and graphs that he embeds of his own working strategies and productivity are particularly interesting). As one reviewer notes though, this short book proclaims a simple message that can be condensed in a sentence: "Set regular, dedicated time to write, set specific goals for each writing session, and then write!" This is the secret, and despite his whimsical, entertaining style, Silvia should not and does not flesh over these bones with unnecessary flab. The result is a short and important message, bulked up into (short) book format by some excursions into style and tips for writing books and journal articles. Though the section on writing books is novel, these sections overlap considerably with Sternberg's edited volume 'Guide to Publishing in Psychology Journals', and though useful, are slightly tangential to the book title. If you already own said text, the book's innovative core slims further. The author also discusses the motivational value of recording a writing log and meeting with a writing group to keep you on track through peer pressure. Despite its brevity, the importance of the key message (in terms of long-term career impact) and Silvia's affable prose make this book a worthwhile investment for anyone who finds themself feeling guilty about their unfinished manuscripts.
17 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Susie J
Format:Paperback
On page 110 of this book the author writes 'I spent fewer days writing this book's first draft than I spent writing a recent funded grant'. It shows.
This is a very thin book, in all senses of the word. It says one thing: create a writing schedule and stick to it. Yet somehow the author has managed to spread this out over 132 repetitive pages. These are bulked up with vacuous comment, pointless charts, unfunny cartoons clipped from the New Yorker, and self-regarding ramblings. It is nothing more than a cut and paste job, given a veneer of authority by a whole five pages of spurious academic references at the end. Moreover, for a book supposedly aimed at academics, it is impressively banal. For example, the author writes: "People read books when they want to learn about a new area, to gain a broad perspective on a new body of research, and to see what you have to say'. Any academic that gleans new insights from that is, presumably, in the wrong job.
But what is most astonishing is that for a book that purports to explain how to write more and better, it is so badly written. On almost every page there is a reference to one or more of the following: the author's friends, how much coffee he drinks, or the use of the word 'mittens'. A good editor would have knocked this stuff out of the manuscript. A good writer wouldn't have put it in there in the first place. And if you need further evidence of the vacuous ramblings within its pages, here's a sample quote from p125: "Writing books is clean family fun without the fun or the family (or even the cleanliness if you spill your coffee as often as I do)".
Towards the end of the book the author says: "It's ironic to write a short book about how to write a lot, but there isn't much to say". Quite. Save your money and spend your time writing instead.
This is a very thin book, in all senses of the word. It says one thing: create a writing schedule and stick to it. Yet somehow the author has managed to spread this out over 132 repetitive pages. These are bulked up with vacuous comment, pointless charts, unfunny cartoons clipped from the New Yorker, and self-regarding ramblings. It is nothing more than a cut and paste job, given a veneer of authority by a whole five pages of spurious academic references at the end. Moreover, for a book supposedly aimed at academics, it is impressively banal. For example, the author writes: "People read books when they want to learn about a new area, to gain a broad perspective on a new body of research, and to see what you have to say'. Any academic that gleans new insights from that is, presumably, in the wrong job.
But what is most astonishing is that for a book that purports to explain how to write more and better, it is so badly written. On almost every page there is a reference to one or more of the following: the author's friends, how much coffee he drinks, or the use of the word 'mittens'. A good editor would have knocked this stuff out of the manuscript. A good writer wouldn't have put it in there in the first place. And if you need further evidence of the vacuous ramblings within its pages, here's a sample quote from p125: "Writing books is clean family fun without the fun or the family (or even the cleanliness if you spill your coffee as often as I do)".
Towards the end of the book the author says: "It's ironic to write a short book about how to write a lot, but there isn't much to say". Quite. Save your money and spend your time writing instead.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Academic Mum
Format:Paperback
Really helpful for academics who need or want to change their writing mindset, writing habits, and writing productivity.
Though written by and primarily for academic and broadly experimental psychologists, this is a very helpful book for any academic writer (I am a social scientist working mainly in qualitative methods).
Silvia usefully discusses writing schedules, blocks to writing, and various tools to help get into and maintain good writing habits.
He has a personable, clear and nicely humorous style. I have found some books of this type rather admonishing, but I did not find that here.
I have already recommended this book to both postgrads and to faculty colleagues.
Though written by and primarily for academic and broadly experimental psychologists, this is a very helpful book for any academic writer (I am a social scientist working mainly in qualitative methods).
Silvia usefully discusses writing schedules, blocks to writing, and various tools to help get into and maintain good writing habits.
He has a personable, clear and nicely humorous style. I have found some books of this type rather admonishing, but I did not find that here.
I have already recommended this book to both postgrads and to faculty colleagues.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
what a waste of time
I find it really hard to understand how books like this get published in the first place. From start to finish many repetitions. Read more
Published 6 days ago by Frankimoon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Read this as a 1st year undergraduate
I discovered this book two weeks before the submission of my undergraduate dissertation. My academic life would have been much simpler, had I discovered it two years earlier.
Published 2 months ago by Ywan
5.0 out of 5 stars
Helped Me
I was struggling with academic writing, finishing a paper and putting together a research proposal. I agree this book does put forward a very simple message, however it is done in... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Rebecca
4.0 out of 5 stars
Small but mighty!
This is a very motivating short read. The message is simple and effective - to write a lot you need to set yourself a schedule and stick to it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Ben
5.0 out of 5 stars
Worth reading
First book purchased on Amazon, worth reading and learn a lot about how to carry on academic writing. You should not miss it.
Published 18 months ago by Xinhong
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must-read for all PhD students
This book is an easy-to-read book that helps a student plan writing time! Does exactly what it says on the tin (...well, book cover! Read more
Published 22 months ago by Bangor Student
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book just might have changed my life for the better
It's too early to say whether the development in the last couple of weeks, since I got this book, is significant and lasting, but my feeling is that the book has nudged me towards... Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2011 by Scientific Underdog
4.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended!!!
It is a great book on writing even for non-native speakers of English. Its only disadvantage is the use only examples from the psychological field, it could be more universal if he... Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2010 by Chasan
1.0 out of 5 stars
waste of paper
Sit down and write and don't let anything interrupt you. That is the whole message of this book.
I'm amazed that anyone would find this novel and interesting. Read more
I'm amazed that anyone would find this novel and interesting. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by Jackal
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Good Guide
This book is a very simple and easy to follow guide, which gives lots of valuable advice on how to become more organised and efficient when it comes to your writing. Read more
Published on 6 Dec 2009 by G. Jowett
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