rick reis rgdbstanfordedu overcomplexity real problem want make progress important writing projects really matter life career dont come external deadlines breathing neck tomorrows professorsm email newsletter httpctlstanfordedutomprofpostingshtml sponsored stanford university center teaching learning httpctlstanfordedu comments httpampstoolsmitedutomprofblog folks posting gives good pointers reduce complexity writing gina hiatt phd academic ladder get help climb found httpacademicladdercom 2008 dissertation coach reprinted permission regards rick reis rgdbstanfordedu next college really support teaching learning tomorrows research 954 words reducing overcomplexity scholarly writing writing stall get overwhelmed confused neverunderstanding quest understand brain academic finally realized something incredibly complex academic brain thousands ideas swirl around one reconnecting back earlier ideas spawning new question thought idea sure sign intelligence youll happy know hand complexity kept control stop functioning optimal level eventually lead feel highlevel thoughts overcomplexity real problem want make progress important writing projects really matter life career dont come external deadlines breathing neck like say dissertation book really need finish writing complexity mind overwhelm write causing give project seems muddled lack deadline allows set aside temporarily magical hope unclear mess created clear methods approaching writing help rein chaos write find think thoughts somewhat muddled get writing dont go around around circles internally know write write know youre going say learn tolerate degree confusion yes complexity early writing ive noticed many academics get panicky first draft mess supposed mess faith revision process whether paragraph youre struggling today chapter completed last week ways simplifying clarifying work later let go idea create complex arguments one draft onedraft writing worked undergraduate maybe even grad school courses howard becker points writing social scientists doesnt work dissertators professors prolific experienced professors know takes many drafts reach clarity thinking writing created draft lots questions notes along alternative possibilities additions may unnecessary cut paste extras another document see clean draft youre throwing away thoughts corralling holding pen way practice preach simple article contains 935 words originally 1451 threw 516 words sob write notice youre feeling stuck make decision writing consists series small decisions eg state point enough support im going say need include citation point youre going decide one way another go ahead flip coin either become clear later need get feedback others tells whether made right choice dont let small decisions paralyze youve made decisions dont need throw ideas put holding pen start file called ideas put thoughts ideas youll thankful file later date scounging around starting point new article grad student humanities similar file could called book type file popular dissertators coaching groups agonize letting go great ideas lovely writing wont fit dissertation ideas could well beginning great chapter book create dissertation practice revising mind mapping already written organization writing seems unclear writing main argument topic sentences important paragraphs stickies index cards place argument center move stickies around remove seems clearer creating drafts rereading fixing always focus clarity get better practice giving rough drafts readers making changes suggest rewriting parts misunderstand initial readers misunderstand chances later readers focus simplifying remove redundancies make fancy flowery sentences clearer take anything doesnt move main argument forward check whether youre using complexity defense ask whether youre making writing complicated needs youll never finish could way avoiding inevitable criticism piece scholarly writing must face starting points either overwhelmed complexity thoughts afraid dont thoughts worth writing scholarly writing never easy process make little easier implementing one idea week note anyone subscribe tomorrowsprofessor mailing list going httpsmailmanstanfordedumailmanlistinfotomorrowsprofessor tomorrowsprofessor mailing list benitgfuvjayawvtbelistsstanfordedu httpsmailmanstanfordedumailmanlistinfotomorrowsprofessor tue 05 aug 2008 174638 0800 tp msg 851 reducing overcomplexity scholarly writing