by Robbin Warner, PhD | Sep 20, 2016 | Dissertation, General, Getting started, writer's block, writing process
Sometimes, we have deadlines to meet—defense dates, submission deadlines, departmental review dates. At those times, we simply have to force ourselves to sit down and write. There are other times in the writing process, however, when we have the time and space to give...
by Risa Gorelick, PhD | Aug 23, 2016 | Dissertation, Drafts, Editing, Getting started, writer's block
To help you stay focused, schedule your writing times on your actual calendar like you would an important appointment. Do NOT say you have “all day” when you can only focus for short periods of time. Schedule hour blocks and then get up, meditate, grab a...
by Beth L. Hewett, PhD, CT | Aug 2, 2016 | Dissertation, Drafts, Editing, Getting started, writing process
One of the most important things that dissertation, article, and book writers can do for themselves is to present their hard-earned texts in a professional manner. Sloppy presentation of an otherwise powerful text is like going to a formal wedding in yoga pants. No...
by Risa Gorelick, PhD | Jun 21, 2016 | audience, Comments, Dissertation, Drafts, Editing, General, rhetorical process
When you sit down to write, consider for whom you are writing. If it is a scholarly piece of writing, you want to address other scholars. This audience would have a similar background and a knowledge base that allows the reader to come to your writing at a certain...
by Robbin Warner, PhD | Jun 14, 2016 | Dissertation, Drafts, Editing, General
If you’re the kind of person who is reading these blogs on the Defend and Publish website, you’re the kind of person who works hard to write well. You’ve probably struggled to come up with a clever turn of phrase. Maybe you’ve spent weeks alone in your University’s...
by Robbin Warner, PhD | Jun 7, 2016 | Comments, Dissertation, Drafts, Editing
When you receive comments, whether from your dissertation committee or a journal, keep in mind that a reviewer’s purpose is to submit comments. However, the motivation for each comment can be confusing. Sometimes the comment is representative of what the reviewer is...