The four rules of writing
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Read the guidance, count words, seek criticism, treat each rejection as the start of the next submission
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The four rules of writing
- 1. The four rules of writing Roger Watson Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Advanced Nursing Editor, Nursing Open
- 3. Why do you want to write? Academic obligation Career progression Prestige of your institution To share research findings To disseminate good practice Money Because you enjoy it?
- 4. Overcoming the barrier Behind every written piece there is a living, breathing human being who overcame his or her own challenges to express important thoughts on paper Dale Salwak (THE)
- 5. What is the main barrier to writing?
- 6. How to be a writer If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot. There’s no way round these two things…no shortcut. Stephen King
- 7. Being a writer I learned to write by writing Professionalism comes from being able to write on a bad day Norman Mailer
- 8. Application to the job of writing Apply the seat of your pants to the seat of a chair and don’t get up until you’ve written something. Beaverbrook
- 9. Application
- 10. Learn to write anywhere and everywhere • Office • Home • Trains • Planes • Hotels
- 11. Keep a note book
- 12. Some don’ts Don’t think about it Don’t tell anyone about it Don’t wait for inspiration …just do it!
- 14. Just do it You can edit a bad page…. …you can’t edit a blank page
- 15. Inspiration Inspiration is the act of drawing the chair up to the writing table. Orhan Pamuk
- 17. Inspiration Instead of planning or talking about your plan, I say, just get something out on paper before you forget it – no matter how uncertain you feel or how confusing it sounds. I also suggest that (you) write the first draft before (you) do any research. Rarely do we know what we’re going to write about until we’ve completed a first, stumbling draft Dale Salwak (THE)
- 18. The four rules of writing Read the guidelines Set realistic targets and count words Seek criticism Treat a rejection as the start of the next submission
- 21. Setting targets All good writers do this Try to write a specific number of words per day or every time you sit down to write When you have reached your target…STOP!
- 22. Setting targets Set daily targets, stick to them and give yourself plenty of rewards afterwards. The people who succeed are those who treat it like a job… Phillip Hodson (THE)
- 23. Seeking criticism Find a ‘critical friend’
- 24. Seek criticism of your writing NOT THIS OR THIS THIS
- 25. Seeking criticism Find a ‘critical friend’ Find the type of person who will tell a man: “your trouser zipper is open”
- 26. Expect to have several revisions …I’m one of the world’s greatest rewriters James Mitchener
- 27. Learn when to let go
- 28. Dealing with reviewer’s comments Apply the ‘golden rules’ (Williams 2004) Rule 1. Answer completely Rule 2. Answer politely Rule 3. Answer with evidence
- 29. Answer completely Deal with every point, even if you don’t agree or can’t change it Make a list of points – even if not presented with a list
- 30. Answer politely Don’t start with: ‘We completely disagree with the comments of the reviewer’ ‘Who on earth are your reviewers?’ …etc!
- 31. Answer with evidence If you disagree with the reviewer then provide evidence: facts and references
- 32. Edited by Karen Holland and Roger Watson An invaluable guide on writing for publication, enabling the reader to develop skills in writing articles, book reviews and other forms of publications, written by experts in the field. September 2012, 288 pages ISBN: 9780470657829 £19.99 / €25.90 / $32.95 Order online at www.wiley.com Prefer digital? Visit your e-book retailer to order Writing for Publication in Nursing and Healthcare: Getting It Right