Writing For Publication

RESEARCH AND WRITING FOR PUBLICATION (½ day workshop)

Professor Anne Huff University of Colorado Cranfield School of Management

Cranfield

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AGENDA FOR DAY 09:00 - 09:30

Introductions, First Four Guidelines

09:30 - 10:30

Choosing a Topic

10:30 - 10:50

Coffee/Tea

10:50 - 11:30

Identifying Conversants & Target Journals

11:30 - 12:30

Title and Outline (Exercise)

12:30 - 13:00

Using Exemplars & Presentation Cranfield

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FIRST FOUR WRITING GUIDELINES 

Writing improves thinking



Scholarship is conversation



Good writing requires management



Seeking advice begins the conversation well before publication Cranfield

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1. GOOD THINKING AND GOOD WRITING ARE LINKED thinking “How can I improve what I write until I clarify my thinking to myself?”

“How can I know what I think until I see what I say” Karl Weick

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O bservation

writing gets easier with practice writing is more fun with practice

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TIMING IS IMPORTANT • starting too soon minimizes the gain • waiting too long generates too much raw material to work with [But of course it depends upon the person]

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DOUBLE BIND (1)

WAIT TOO LONG TO BEGIN

(2)

THEN WASTE WRITING TIME BECAUSE NOT ENOUGH THINKING ABOUT: audience contribution tactics for connecting the two Cranfield

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WHAT IS SCHOLARSHIP?

PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE? THINKING SYSTEMATICALLY? PROBLEM SOLVING? INSIGHT? Cranfield

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MOST OF ALL

2. SCHOLARSHIP IS CONVERSATION Cranfield

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• The scholarly community shapes – the way the world is understood – the definition of problems worth solving

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MANY SUB-COMMUNITIES EXIST

Each understands the world in a somewhat different way Each focuses on somewhat different problems To participate and make a contribution, you must join a conversation Cranfield

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• Who do I want to talk to? • What are they talking about as I arrive? • What are the most interesting things I have to add to the conversation? • How should I introduce myself?

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O bservation

The average published paper is cited less than two times by other researchers

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3. THINKING, WRITING AND CONTRIBUTION ARE IMPROVED BY SEEKING ADVICE Cranfield

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Barriers to seeking advice • too shy • too respectful • “my precious ideas”

AFRAID Cranfield

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Barriers to giving advice • too shy • too respectful

NOT ENOUGH TIME • “my precious ideas” Cranfield

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SOLUTIONS • get tough (separate the ideas from the person) • minimize the burden (limit pages, focus requests) • don’t hoard ideas (ideas are cheap, making something of them is difficult)

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FORM A COMMUNITY

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WHO ARE POTENTIAL MEMBERS OF MY “WRITING COMMUNITY”?

HOW CAN I HELP DEVELOP MY COMMUNITY?

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ADVICE

DEVELOP AN “INTERNAL COMPASS” TO KEEP YOUR BEARING IN THE FACE OF CONFLICTING, POSSIBLY IRRELEVANT ADVICE

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4. MANAGE WRITING • Put yourself in an environment that values writing (if possible) • Observe and learn from people who publish • Set up daily routines that support writing for publication • Plan, establish a calendar, update • Invest in your career

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• Think about inputs • Don’t hold back anything relevant • Enjoy the process • Celebrate the victories  Choose to do the work from “Professional and Personal Life” in Susan Taylor and Peter Frost Rhythms of Academic Life (Sage, 1997) Cranfield

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ADVICE

Keep polishing your writing skills Keep perfecting your ability to “just say no”

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(it’s unlikely that you will publish unless you make publication a priority)

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ADVICE (from Hemingway)

Always leave something easy as the “warm-up” task for the next morning.

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WHAT ARE MY “BEST TIMES” TO WRITE?

HOW CAN I PROTECT/ENLARGE “BEST TIME”?

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CHOOSING THE TOPIC • Brainstorm • Evaluate in terms of: – self – field – practice – portfolio Cranfield

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RULES OF CREATIVE BRAINSTORMING:

• Develop pool of possibilities • Delay evaluation • Synthesize, refine the pool • Evaluate

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EXAMPLE: DESIGN A PEN Size

Shape

Color

Material

Marker

small

cylinder

black

wood

graphite

medium

sphere

blue

plastic

ink

large

box

rainbow

paper

beet juice

ovoid

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EXAMPLE: IDENTIFY PAPER ALTERNATIVES Audience

Format

Purpose

Approach

Close Peers

Formal Paper

Inform

Conceptual Outline Literature Review

Another field

Presentation

Persuade

Extend theory

International

“underground”

Describe

Present data

Academic

Explore

Practitioner Cranfield

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BRAINSTORMING ADVICE

BE INTERESTING. DON’T BE AVANT-GARDE ON EVERY DIMENSION.

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GUIDELINES FOR IDENTIFYING A PAPER TOPIC: • Make yourself generate at least one idea a day, for at least a week. • File. Don’t evaluate until the end of the week. • Extend, synthesize, generate new ideas. • Evaluate. Cranfield

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FOUR CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION me

my field/ subfield

practice

portfolio Cranfield

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interest

me

skills (current advantage) vs. development (future advantage) Cranfield

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primary paradigms established areas of inquiry my field/ subfield

accepted methodologies familiar data sources “hot” topics, methods, sources Cranfield

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ADVICE

DON’T CHOOSE TODAY’S HOT TOPIC UNLESS YOU HAVE A DEEP AFFINITY FOR IT (YOU MAY NEED TO REPACKAGE BY PUBLICATION TIME) Cranfield

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felt needs

practice

available data

site access

data access Cranfield

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career goals vs. opportunity short vs. long term horizon

portfolio

risk vs. “likely hit” Current reputation vs. new intent Cranfield

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ADVICE

RESEARCH AND WRITING IS A LONELY BUSINESS. DO WHAT YOU REALLY WANT TO DO “WITHIN REASON”.

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ADVICE

THINK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF SUSTAINED INQUIRY • increasing expertise, more significant contributions • increasing reputation, more opportunity and impact.

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IDENTIFY THREE POSSIBLE PAPER TOPICS

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EVALUATE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESS OF EACH TOPIC ON THE 4 CRITERIA me

my field

practice

portfolio Cranfield

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O bservation Many people do not (cannot?) generate three ideas that have equal appeal. It’s worth working on.

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SEEK ADVICE BEFORE CHOOSING A TOPIC TO WORK ON

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IDENTIFYING CONVERSANTS AND TARGET JOURNALS  Clarifying a core audience, before writing begins, helps specify what to write  Choose target journals and titles after conversants

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DEFINITION: CONVERSANTS One, two or three articles or books that are most relevant to what I have to say. (The two or three people I most want to talk to).

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CONVERSANTS CONTINUE TO BE USEFUL • where to begin • what to emphasize • what to de-emphasize  depth and detail (respond to specific arguments) Cranfield

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CLEAR identification of conversants helps you know what to write (of all the many things you think)

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WITH WHOM DO I WANT TO CONVERSE?

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WHAT ARE THE THREE MOST INTERESTING POINTS I COULD BRING TO THE CONVERSATION?

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POSSIBLE FOCI

1

2

3

4

5

A POSSIBLE CONVERSANTS

B C D Cranfield

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KEEP THE READER’S ATTENTION FOCUSED ON YOUR CONTRIBUTION • • • • • •

title abstract outline (what % is original?) headings topic sentences conclusion Cranfield

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ADVICE

GETTING MAD CAN CLARIFY CHOICES Cranfield

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ADVICE

Keep promising discards in a “bottom drawer” of paper ideas • aid in focusing this paper (“gone but not forgotten”) • gene pool for future

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TARGET JOURNALS

• choose the subject and the conversants, before the journal outlet • have a back up journal in mind • make journal choices before writing outline, abstract, title Cranfield

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I COULD TALK TO DIFFERENT PEOPLE Which group would be most interested in my work? (Which group interests me most?) Cranfield

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I COULD ADDRESS MY CONVERSANTS IN DIFFERENT PLACES Which is used most by my conversants? (Which one fits me best?) Cranfield

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Finding an effective forum helps you know what to write (of the many things you think about). Find a few, dissect and compare! Cranfield

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ADVICE Imagine yourself as an anthropologist comparing cultures • • • • •

How do they do things here? What are their speech patterns? How do they address each other? Who are the respected elders? Have newcomers received honor? Cranfield

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• SKIM THE LAST TWO OR THREE VOLUMES OF POSSIBLE JOURNAL OUTLETS WITH YOUR CURRENT PROJECT IN MIND • IDENTIFY YOUR FIRST AND SECOND TARGET • BRING COPIES OF THE FIRST PAGE OF ARTICLES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE ARTICLE YOU EXPECT TO WRITE FROM EACH TARGET

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ADVICE

DON’T START TO WRITE WITHOUT TWO PLAUSIBLE HOMES. (DON’T ABANDON WHAT YOU WANT TO DO; CLARIFY IT). Cranfield

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TITLE AND OUTLINE • Primary function – attract the right readers – organize your presentation – summarize your contribution • Excellent point for seeking advice • Tailor for the target journal Cranfield

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How do I capture their attention?

One answer: Don’t confuse title, abstract or outline with periphery issues and vocabulary.

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ADVICE

FOCUS ATTENTION ON YOUR CONVERSANTS. READ THEIR WORK AND REPLY TO IT. BY DOING THAT WELL YOU WILL ATTRACT OTHER READERS. Cranfield

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Title guidelines: • include key words (especially important for computer search) • be brief but comprehensive • memorable?

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OBVIOUS REMINDER

CONSIDER THE STANDARDS OF YOUR TARGET JOURNAL

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THE ACID TEST:

ASK “STRANGERS” WHAT THEY THINK THE PAPER IS ABOUT, WHAT THEY WOULD EXPECT TO FIND IN THE PAPER BASED ON YOUR TITLE Cranfield

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OUTLINE Summarizes the “logic” of a paper • order of presentation • hierarchy among points you are trying to make • detail available under each point Cranfield

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ADVICE

• Force yourself to “cluster” ideas. • Use primary, secondary and tertiary headings to help the reader (and yourself) navigate. • Low detail headings should be merged, cut, or elaborated. Cranfield

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O bservation ONCE ESTABLISHED, A GOOD OUTLINE SIGNIFICANTLY SPEEDS THE WRITING PROCESS

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ADVICE

Resist the temptation to just start writing (most of the time).

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OUTLINE YOUR PAPER.

EVALUATE FOR: 1. INTEREST TO CONVERSANTS? 2. EMPHASIS ON “VALUE ADDED”?

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EVALUATE YOUR OUTLINE FROM THE READER’S PERSPECTIVE -

Many people provide too much background. (Would cutting the first few pages give the paper more "punch”?)

-

Don’t force us to follow your tortuous path.

-

Don’t hide your major findings on the last page (put in abstract, introduction).

*

Center stage, and most detail, for your contribution to the conversation. Cranfield

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O bservation The outline should fit the purpose and style of the paper. Even impressionistic, emotional, evocative writing benefits from “good bones”. Cranfield

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TWO LAST PIECES OF ADVICE: USE EXEMPLARS AND PRESENTATION

 Imitation can “prime the pump” to get writing started  Presentation also contributes to thinking and writing

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DEFINITION: EXEMPLARS

Are papers that do what I’m trying to do: -

perhaps on a very different topic

-

ideally in my target journal

*

that I think are effective Cranfield

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O bservation Choosing an exemplar requires a needed decision about “what kind of a paper am I trying to write”.

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CHALLENGE RECEIVED WISDOM?

IL A ET PR D D N ES AD O A HED EN T LIS SY FR T D NT TH B C? N A E L HES OV OM AT T PI S ITE A E TO EL A RA IZE SIT TU E? RE ? L P A O L ? C E I Y V R G I E A O D P L R T M FO ? O P S A E Y E T E A T A G RE Y? ID OR IDE V G A IR O PP ED U R S EW QU P SU PT N EN E C AC REJUVENATING OF AN OLD TOPIC? Cranfield

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ADVICE

COLLECT EXEMPLARS (LOOK AT THE MANY WAYS PEOPLE TRY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE ON-GOING CONVERSATION IN THEIR AREA.)

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WHAT KIND OF CONTRIBUTION COULD I MAKE IN THIS PAPER? (another brainstorming opportunity)

WHICH ONE DO I WANT TO MAKE?

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ADVICE

KEEP YOUR EYE OUT FOR “MINI- EXEMPLARS” TOO • framing mixed results • presenting an unfamiliar methodology • not following established procedures (e.g. introduce reliability) etc. Cranfield

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IMITATION IS NOT ONLY SINCERE FLATTERY IT SAVES A LOT OF TIME

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Examine Closely • Outline – order of topics – amount of space for each topic – subheading structure • Exhibits • Examples • References (how many, what kind) • What attracts interest? Cranfield

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Evaluative questions that help develop an “internal compass”: • What works best in my exemplar? • What applies to my current effort? • How should I modify this example? • What is less effective, that I don’t want to copy? • What do I need to add, given my particular project? Cranfield

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ADVICE

CITE GENEROUSLY, BUT DON’T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT PLAGIARISM (IT’S NOT A COPY IT’S A STARTING POINT) Cranfield

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IDENTIFY AND ANALYZE 2 OR 3 (NO MORE, NO LESS) EXAMPLES OF THE KIND OF PAPER YOU WANT TO WRITE

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PRESENTATION “How can I know what to think or write until I see what I say in front of an audience?” (Weick, paraphrase)

thinking PRESENTING writing

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O bservation The most exciting academic conversations often take place at professional meetings. Participating lets you “leap-frog” 1-3 years ahead of the journals.

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PRESENTATION BASICS = WRITING BASICS • clearly identify subject • capture attention (what's important and interesting) • give the flavor of paper itself – kind of data – level of detail – key results

 make sure they know your contribution • “leave the audience wanting more” Cranfield

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ADVICE

TRY PRESENTING FIRST (THEN START WRITING)

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“IT CLARIFIES THE MIND WONDERFULLY”

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O bservation

It’s often impossible to know you are not communicating, until you see blank looks from your audience.

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CONTROL OVER MECHANICS INCREASES THE GAIN • well produced overheads (no more than 1 per minute) • limited number of words per overhead (varies by audience, purpose, etc.) • variety – use pictures – turn off overhead – vary your energy – ask questions (and give people time to think of an answer) Cranfield

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Practice using overheads (rather than a detailed script) Stand up Address a sympathetic friend

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ADVICE

Stop analyzing and writing in time to develop a good presentation (remember it’s a form of thinking) Cranfield

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