200 5: BECOMING A SERIAL WRITER
the extended process of thesis writing, unless you break that extended process up into specific writing tasks, which perhaps brings us closer to the concept of ‘snack’ writing? The key feature that ‘snack’ writing can bring to your writing is the process of defining your writing tasks, perhaps in more detail than you do when you have large amounts of time. This in turn can enhance your motivation. You might think that all of those who enrol for higher degrees will have plenty of motivation, all of the time, but many report that motivation has its peaks and troughs. In order to continually progress your writing, it might help to link your motivation to your writing, which takes us back to the research quoted at the start of this chapter: ‘Motivation comes most reliably in the wake of regular involvement’ (Boice 1994: 236). Combining ‘binge’ and ‘snack’ modes can build a productive writing process, and you clearly need to be productive to sustain your writing as you develop your understanding and manage your research. ‘Binge’ writing works best when you have a clear mental picture of what you want to write, either in the form of a graphical representation or a detailed outline. This helps you to see the connections between your ideas or points as you write. Writing in that way, and writing regularly, you will find that your writing is focused and fluent. In other words, both binge and snack modes can be combined with the other strategies covered in this book and other strategies that you will learn from other writers.
Developing a writing strategy Until you get to the point where you have an effective writing strategy, you have to try a range of different strategies. Ultimately, most thesis writers and researchers report that they want to be able to write better and more easily. How you achieve this might be by writing regularly and in different modes: • • • •
Do regular freewriting, generative writing and/or writing to prompts Do a detailed outline before you start Alternative short and long bursts of writing Use each mode of writing for a specific purpose.
The last point means that you have to decide what the purpose of each writing session is: 1 Are you doing a writing warm-up, doing structured writing, writing to develop your thinking or what? 2 What is the purpose of your text? What point do you intend to make? 3 Design your writing slot accordingly.
22654_how to write a thesis.indb 200
25/02/2011 14:44