Tips for Successful Academic Research and Writing

Choosing something that you are fervently interested in to research is a huge first step on the road to triumphant academic writing but, it can be intricate to keep the momentum going.

These tips are not in any meticulous order, apart from the first one, which I consider to be very important.

Planning your research schedule

1. When writing or researching, choose something that you are passionately interested in. I find that most of my writing and research tends to spring from wanting to find out more or comprehend more about a given phenomenon that intrigues me. In explaining it to myself, I end up explaining it to others, hopefully in a new and interesting way. Be organized – planning time is essential when there are many demands on your time.
2. Make sure that you set aside one or more schedules of time each week when you devote to research and don not let other demands impinge on this time.

3. So I can easily identify what I need to do and by that, I use a white-board with a ‘to do’ list with tasks listed on a monthly basis and their deadlines. I rub off tasks as I complete them (usually with a grand sense of accomplishment!). Very low technology, I know, but it is effective as a visual reminder.
4. Plan your research in advance: this morning, today, this week, this month, next few months, this year, next three years. Have a clear initiative for what you want to achieve in these periods and try to stick to your plan.
5. I do not tend to think more than a year ahead when it comes to research outcomes. I desire to achieve, but I find it helpful to write up at least a one-year research plan at the beginning of each year. Some individuals may also want to prepare a 3- or 5-year research plan.
6. Be strategic about every bit of research time available. Think about the preeminent use of your time. Difficult cognitive tasks requiring severe thought often need a lengthy period of time, so plan to do these when time is available to you. Easy or less time-intensive tasks such as editing, correcting proofs or formatting a journal article or chapter for submission or reading some materials and taking notes can be fitted in smaller periods of time.

Making a start

1. Use whatever research time available to do something, however small the task.
2. Make a start. Once you have an idea for a section of writing, create a file for it on your laptop and write down anything, however rough and however brief it may be, even if it is just a makeshift title and some notes about possible content. It can always be refined and developed at a later time or even discarded if you make a decision not to go ahead with the idea.
3. Organize your writing into different files: submitted articles, articles in progress, conference papers, accepted articles, book proposals, blog posts, grant applications etc.
4. Organize your PDF journal article assortment under topics in files on your PC.
5. If you are feeling indifferent or have hit a wall – leave that piece of writing for a while and utilize the time to work on another piece of writing.
6. If no external deadline has been set, set your own deadlines and try to meet them as much as you can. This helps in providing time for the next piece of writing.