Key takeaways from the book: How to write a lot by Paul Silvia

1. How to write a lot
by Paul J. Silvia
Book Summary

2. Chapter 2: Specious Barriers to writing a lot
Barrier 1: I can’t find time to write
• Finding time is a destructive way of thinking about writing
• Instead of finding time to write, allot time to write.
• Prolific writers make a schedule and stick to it.
• Have a writing schedule and follow it
• “the simple fact of sitting down to write day after day is what makes
writers productive” – Ralph Keyes
• Binge writers

3. Specious barrier #2
• Barrier 2: I need to read few more articles
• Binge writers are also binge readers or binge statisticians
• Prewriting exercises: reading, outlining, idea generation, data analysis
necessary for generating text
• Do whatever you want to do related to writing: reading articles,
analysis, review journal submission guidelines

4. Specious barrier #3
• Barrier 3: I need new tool
• “In order to write, all a man needs is paper and a pencil” –William
Saroyan
• Equipment will never help you write a lot; only making a schedule and
sticking to it will make you a productive writer.

5. Specious barrier #4
• Barrier 4: Waiting for inspiration
• Writing breeds good ideas for writing
• As a academics, we are not creating high literature. We don’t have fan
lurking outside the conference hotel hoping for our autographs on
recent issues of the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
• “Serious writers write, inspired or not. Over time they discover that
routine is a better friend to them than inspiration” – Keyes
• The only way to write a lot is write regularly

6. Chapter 3: Motivational tools
• Clear goals are directly motivating- they enable people to plan, carry
out instrumental action, and feel proud when the goal has been
accomplished