LibGuides: Writing for Publication: Planning to Write

Organization

When you start a project you want to write about, keep careful track of materials you might need later. These could include:

Consulted materials (that you will cite)
Numbers, figures, diagrams
Results

Start writing early, even if you end up changing a lot of what you initially put down. You may also write different sections at different times.

Give yourself plenty of time to write -- it can take a while!

Also, continue to keep in mind your audience and your purpose for writing to begin with.

Resources

Sage Research Methods: Writing Up
Guidelines for various stages of the writing process. Focused on academic writing (e.g., papers, theses, etc), but also applicable to writing for publication.
Step-by-Step Planning Before You Write
Advice for beginning to think about your project, even before you start writing.

Managing Your Time

Time Management by Brian Tracy
ISBN: 9780814433447
Publication Date: 2014-01-20
It's a simple equation--the better you use your time, the more you will accomplish, and the greater you will succeed. But the rollout of this basic theory isn't so simple, is it? In Time Management, business author and success expert Brian Tracy says it is!In this indispensable, pocket-sized guide, Tracy reveals 21 proven time management techniques you can use immediately to gain two or more productive hours every day.
Time Management by Carol Rivera
ISBN: 9781281359766
Publication Date: 2009-03-27
Table of Contents; How to Manage Time; How to Audit your Time; Different Methods of Time Management ; Time Scheduling Suggestion; Time Scheduling; Overcoming Procrastination; Perfectionism; Myths About Time Management ; Specific Techniques for Time Management; Glossary of Quality Management.

General Books About Writing

How to Write by Alastair Fowler
ISBN: 9780191535260
Publication Date: 2006-09-01
How to Write is an introductory guide to writing, aimed at people who think they can't write, or for whom writing is an ordeal. Broken down into short topic-based chapters on everything from beginning to revising, it demystifies the writing process by taking the reader through each stage necessary to bring a piece of writing to a decent finish. The book also offers a wealth of invaluable practical considerations, including when and where to write, when toprintout and when to edit onscreen, what type of pen works well for revisions, and the hazards of the paperclip.
Writing Without Teachers by Peter Elbow
ISBN: 9780190262815
Publication Date: 1998-01-01
In Writing Without Teachers, well-known advocate of innovative teaching methods Peter Elbow outlines a practical program for learning how to write. His approach is especially helpful to people who get "stuck" or blocked in their writing, and is equally useful for writing fiction, poetry, and essays, as well as reports, lectures, and memos.

Selected Books

Preparing to Publish, by Sarah Huffman; Elena Cotos; and Kimberly Becker
This book offers a wealth of instructional material on the topic of research article writing for publication and thesis or dissertation completion. The text provides graduate student writers with helpful information, strategies, and tips on navigating disciplinary writing in their fields and how to understand, dissect, and ultimately, construct their own research article. The text is organized according to a standard research article format, breaking down each section of the empirical research in a simple and straightforward manner to help graduate students build a quality, argument-driven manuscript as they write up their empirical study findings.

Planning and Structuring an Essay

University of Birmingham video on structuring and essay. Geared towards writing essays for class; however, the general tips are good ones, including, keeping notes on what you'll write, using Post-Its to keep track of ideas, planning to give yourself enough time, etc.

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Writing for Publication