The power of sharing
What little we can do alone, a lot more we can do together.
While there is little doubt that research is increasingly a collaborative effort, writing seems to be still more solitary. Even when we co-author papers, we seldom share the actual process of putting words to a page. Unless, of course, we have learned how important is collaboration for a joyful process of writing.
So, to find joy, find someone with whom you can share the process. Even if you can't share the text, even if you don't always share the ideas, sharing the process, the shared feelings of being with others, seeing them struggling and working, even that will allow you to find more joy in the process.
One idea for sharing that I picked up from Patricia Goodson is to keep a writing journal. Or several writing journals, one for each of the writing projects. And note down your thoughts, your twists and turns, your progress and being stalled. So you share, first with yourself. And better yet, if you find a way to share with the others. Share the journal with your friends and colleagues. Not as a competition - who has more and who gets more done. But as a reflection and building a community. Share the writing journal and share the process challenges you might have had.
So, inspired by the Patricia Goodson's book, Becoming an Academic Writer, I decided to keeping track of the following points:
1) Date
2) Plan for the writing session
3) Overall goal - why am I doing this, what is the next milestone you are working towards
4) Time that I kept working in that particular session
5) What did you do
6) Plan for the next time.
So, you can see the pattern. In the ideal world, I start and finish my writing session with a bit of reflection and sharing. I note down my plans for the day and what did I actually get done. And what I think I should be doing next. And in the best of worlds, I will just pick up from where I left off, copy the plan for next time as the plan for the writing session and get going. So, even if life throws you curveballs, you can get back to your writing, your thinking without too much soul-searching. And it could be a way to juggle different projects.
I am just in the beginning, but I am sharing the idea of journaling as it increases reflexivity in the practice and gives us something to share with others.
So, work on those collaborative and joyful moments and share them.
So, to find joy, find someone with whom you can share the process. Even if you can't share the text, even if you don't always share the ideas, sharing the process, the shared feelings of being with others, seeing them struggling and working, even that will allow you to find more joy in the process.
One idea for sharing that I picked up from Patricia Goodson is to keep a writing journal. Or several writing journals, one for each of the writing projects. And note down your thoughts, your twists and turns, your progress and being stalled. So you share, first with yourself. And better yet, if you find a way to share with the others. Share the journal with your friends and colleagues. Not as a competition - who has more and who gets more done. But as a reflection and building a community. Share the writing journal and share the process challenges you might have had.
So, inspired by the Patricia Goodson's book, Becoming an Academic Writer, I decided to keeping track of the following points:
1) Date
2) Plan for the writing session
3) Overall goal - why am I doing this, what is the next milestone you are working towards
4) Time that I kept working in that particular session
5) What did you do
6) Plan for the next time.
So, you can see the pattern. In the ideal world, I start and finish my writing session with a bit of reflection and sharing. I note down my plans for the day and what did I actually get done. And what I think I should be doing next. And in the best of worlds, I will just pick up from where I left off, copy the plan for next time as the plan for the writing session and get going. So, even if life throws you curveballs, you can get back to your writing, your thinking without too much soul-searching. And it could be a way to juggle different projects.
I am just in the beginning, but I am sharing the idea of journaling as it increases reflexivity in the practice and gives us something to share with others.
So, work on those collaborative and joyful moments and share them.
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