Writing Without Distraction

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The computer is a fiend – you have learned this all too well, have been led astray by its many possibilities. When you are meant to craft a simple paper, you are instead enamored by the virtual playground, the chats initiated by friends, the streams of music and films. Hours quickly pass and you have gained little knowledge of a topic. You’ve instead devoted yourself to enjoying the Internet. Writing, you’ve discovered, has been replaced to the avoidance of it.

This cannot continue – there are deadlines to meet and assignments to answer. You must refuse the ease of the computer and instead utilize it purely for research.

This is, of course, often believed to be impossible. There’s simply too much to do online (all of which is far more appealing than any dry topic); but writing without distractions can be achieved. It’s simply a matter of diligence and careful planning:

One: Schedule. Give yourself a specified amount of time to work on pages. During this block, don’t allow yourself to answer calls, scan channels, play games or do similar activities. Instead simply write.

Two: Create a proper space. Your bedroom is meant to be a retreat from the world. It’s therefore rarely suitable for research. It holds far too many pleasures and far too little urgency. If possible, create a separate space for your work – one without the collection of posters, photographs and bookmarked web pages.

Three: Reward yourself. Once a respectable amount of time has passed (more than mere minutes, the crafting of a singular sentence), give yourself a chance to relax. Take a break; move about your home; enjoy the – short – interlude. You will then be re-energized when you must return to writing.

It’s all too easy to distract yourself with the computer and the many surrounding interests. You must instead, however, distance yourself from these and simply focus on academia.

It is possible. It’s merely dependent on you.

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Becoming a Freelance Writer

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Instead of using Canada 411 to look up information on writing, why not become a freelance writer yourself and make money doing it. Being a freelance writer isn’t easy. You have to have good writing skills as well as perseverance in order to succeed.

Many people start out writing for free in order to build their credit list, but you don’t have to do that. Send out query letters to different magazines or publishers for ideas you have for them. Instead of wasting your time writing an article, story or book, sending a query letter lets them know your idea so that they can accept it or reject it.

If accepted, you may be sent a contract to write the article or story. They may also have you provide other previous things you have written so they know that you can put a sentence together.

If you have never written an article or a story, now is the time to start. Make sure you write every day. It doesn’t have to be about anything; you can write about your feelings or even write a letter to someone. Once you start writing every day, you will then get into the habit of doing it and will look forward to continue writing.

Find all the books about writing that you can and read them. The best way to learn is by doing research. There are many books out there offering excellent advice. The authors of those books wrote them for a reason; because they’ve succeeded and want to help you succeed as well. Make sure you take notes so that you can go back and remember the important points that stuck out at you.

Becoming a freelance writer can be quite a rewarding experience. Learn everything you can and write every day.

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The Concerns of Outlining: Writing

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It seemed wise at the time: you crafted an outline, filled it to all possibilities, all intended ideas. A dissertation was carefully detailed, left without the common errors, the refusal of needed sources. You noted all research materials; you created a thesis that could be proven (easily); and you charted out the direction pages would follow and their eventual conclusion. It was to be the easiest of processes and you were fully prepared for it.

As you began to write, however, you found yourself controlled by your outline. New notions could not be placed within it; the structure was limiting; and, though your research had led you to doubt your proposed outcome, you knew you could not change it. It was too deeply embedded within the paper. You were trapped within your own misconceptions – and your sentences were suffering for it.

There can be no doubt that outlining lengthy assignments is a worthy idea. It helps to ease confusion, allows an individual to avoid wandering prose. The concepts are instead actualized before they are even began, enabling a topic to be more thoroughly understood.

The great difficulty in this, however, is that understanding a subject does not guarantee being inspired by it. An outline forces an individual to follow a highly specified path. Any deviation from notes and their rules can cause an entire conclusion to be lost. The paper was created for a singular purpose. There can then be no injection of creativity. It’s forced instead to preconceptions.

This is both a frustration and a futility.

It is strongly encouraged then that academic writing be governed instead by generalities. Understand the intention of a paper, the resources that will be used; but do not cage yourself to any outcome. Allow for possibilities to instead be given to any page. This will ensure that you are able to prove the point you wish, rather than settling for the point you can no longer deny.

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Writing With Focus

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You have a passion for all things historical: your time is dedicated to learning all of the little truths, the unexpected secrets of the past. You scour texts, hoping to find what others may have forgotten, to discover all of the clever notations that can be offered to your research. Your most recent paper has sprawled beyond its original intention – an assignment called for meager pages, an easy thesis. You have instead stuffed it with happy digressions, the not quite requested facts. These are to be expected, however. You believe they are necessary to establish your meanings (and even your brilliance).

Your professor, however, does not agree. He quickly destroys all the asides you have created: deeming them unneeded, unwanted and tedious.

Academic writing is often difficult for the enthusiastic student to master. There is always the assumption that others share the same interests, the same desires. This can lead to wasted efforts and too long papers, however – which can in turn lead to waning grade point averages.

It is therefore vital that all research (and subsequent writing) be conducted with one purpose: focus. All details should support a singular argument; all conclusions should be derived from solitary theses. There shall be no tangential pages, the wandering of sentences. This only serves to weaken a theory and frustrate the reader. There is far too little patience in the world to offer to rambling prose. It will simply not be tolerated.

Writers must instead channel their energies into specific ideas. All components should be relevant, proving a point rather than offering new ones. Words must be concise, technically accurate and without diversion. This will help to ensure a more competent style and a far kinder reception.

It’s all too easy to be overwhelmed by a notion. It must become common, however, to define those notions instead to simplicity.

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The Cliched Response: Writing

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It’s a struggle of words, the ever waning metaphors: you can think of no descriptions, no precise way to define a singular moment. Your research has offered all of the necessary facts; but your thoughts can’t conjure the just as necessary adjectives. There are only weak phrases and inelegant attempts – and so you place a proverb within the page instead, a familiarity. It is not meant to be permanent, only a simple placeholder. But, as you eventually finish the rest of the paper, you think perhaps it should remain. It offers an easy explanation. There should be nothing else required.

There is.

As tempting as cliches can be, they are to be avoided within academic (and even fictional) writing. You are not to substitute prose with the overwrought expressions. This offers no advantage to you and instead limits the success of your paper:

One. Reader confusion. While you can understand the meanings of a specific adage, it may only baffle a reader. Too many cliches are specific to cities or states, certain time period. These will only startle an individual from the page and leave them confused.

Two. Detract from importance. Academic writing is meant to prove a certain point. Such proof, however, cannot be found in proverbs. These will only lessen a conclusion and will not offer the needed potency.

Three. Lack of creativity. You are not defined to simple folk humor, the too often mimicked sayings. Choosing to rely on these therefore does not allow you to offer your own inspirations. They mark you instead as dull.

You have completed all of the vital research. You have crafted a strong thesis. You cannot therefore undermine all of those efforts by allowing these commonalities to seep into your writing. They are not to be used beyond casual conversations. They must instead be replaced to far more precise (and interesting) phrases.

Academia demands competence, not cliches.

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Avoiding Bias: Writing

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The world of academia is composed of theories and arguments, the search for truth – but such a search can be tainted with unfounded accusations, the lacking concepts. It is all too easy to name mere opinions fact. Personal bias is injected into every notion, every paper, and helps to create the new theses. But there is a fragile line between offering ideas to an audience and claiming those ideas to be accurate.

Writers must be aware of the dangers of relying purely on their preferences. Research is meant to be the definition of any paper – not guesses. All claims must be reasonable and without the inflammatory statements. Achieving this can be difficult, however, for those who are deeply invested within their topics. Their judgment becomes impaired by passion. It is vital therefore that these rules are followed:

One: Avoid sensational words. It’s an expected thing to be enthusiastic about a specific subject or philosophy; but you cannot allow that enthusiasm to slip into your writing. Don’t color words with emotions. Don’t try to scandalize readers. Keep the tone neutral and without prejudice.

Two: Acknowledge opposing facts. You seek to prove a point within your paper. That point cannot be made, however, without referencing the facts that could discredit it. Established theories – even those not approved of by you – must be included to add validity. You must address them first and then counter them with your own concepts.

Three: Don’t simply provide opinions. Unless a paper is meant to be an exercise in possibility, you must be able to support every statement you make. Don’t offer broad phrases or vague explanations. Instead be precise with the truth and what can be verified.

Bias is to be refused in all forms of research. While personal interests (or subsequent loathings) may lead you toward a thesis, they must not shade the writing itself. They must instead be tucked away and replaced to simple logic.

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Eliminate Unnecessary Words in Your Papers

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Adding “fluff” or unnecessary words is one of the worst things you can do in academic writing and research. Whether you are writing an essay or first person narrative, your paper has a purpose, so make every word count. Your main mission is to captivate your audience and keep them focused on your paper. Being unnecessarily verbose detracts from the main points in your paper, distorts your goals as an author, and reduces clarity throughout the process. There are many ways to increase the effectiveness and accuracy of your work, but the easiest solution is to remove clichés, slang expressions, prepositions, and generalized content.

Chances are if you do not know what a cliché is, you are using them throughout your paper. Clichés are overused phrases that were once popular, but have since become overused. Sometimes clichés represent a stereotype or exaggerate a situation. Rather than using clichés, stretch your creative channels by describing the situation using colorful diction and vivid imagination. Furthermore, clichés detract from the overall literary value of your work and cause the reader to lose focus.

Good writers know the difference between prose and conversation, but many students write as if they are “speaking” the words aloud. A conversational piece should read much differently than how one speaks. Some overly vague and unnecessary words include “so, because, you know, and like” in addition to thousands of other phrases. Replace these words with academic-friendly terms, including “whereas, herein, furthermore, in lieu of, and with regard to.” If the word or phrase does not help define your topic or provide required imagery, replace it with another term.

Creating concise work does not mean you cannot use imagination or creativity – succinct papers are actually more vivid and descriptive than vague works. Ensure each sentence has a purpose and supports or rejects your introduction. The same rules apply when writing emails or other correspondence, so remember to “trim the fat,” which is a cliché, on your next paper.

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Prepare Your Workspace Before Writing

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Academic writing and research requires deep concentration and attentiveness, so it is important to prepare your workspace accordingly before beginning the writing process. Since writing is a creative process regardless of the assignment, everyone has his or her own regimen. If you start to write and find yourself distracted with your cell phone or other elements, consider following these guidelines for maximum efficiency. You will be surprised to find out how much time you can save by writing without distraction rather than attempting to multitask.

Most students and professional writers cannot multitask while writing. The more distractions you have, the harder it becomes to focus your attention on the work in front of you. Computers, while essential tools of the trade, are also your worst enemy. Before sitting down to write, close all of your background applications, open programs, and unnecessary websites. Start with a clean slate: you should only have a word processor and web browser open. Avoid checking Facebook or other social media websites.

Whether you are using a laptop or desktop, prepare your workspace by removing everything from your immediate reach. Move your phone across the room and put it on silent – not vibrate, since most young people never turn them off and can “hear” the phone vibrating. If possible, close the door to the room you are in, and turn on the lights. Open a window if it is available and the weather is cooperative, as fresh air is nature’s best feature.

As a basic rule, do not attempt to write sitting on your couch, lying by the pool, or any other leisure – borderline ridiculous – locale. If you do not have a desk, at least position your laptop on a table – writing on your bed is equally distracting. Write from the same location every time, so your body and mind know it is time to work. If you are in a shared living environment, consider going to the library. Before writing, put on a pair of headphones and listen to classical, soothing, or therapeutic melodies.

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Commas, Apostrophes, and Hyphens Oh My!

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While we may be living in a content-centric society, do not underestimate the importance of proper punctuation, semantics and syntax in your papers. Academic writing and research requires a high degree of professionalism, so do not under sell your work by using poor punctuation. More importantly, the way in which you utilize punctuation affects your linguistic strategy. Hyphens, commas, and apostrophes all affect the readability of your prose.

Commas

Chances are you have read a sentence in one of your periodicals that made you lose your breath for a second. If not, perhaps you should read more carefully. Sentences are long strings of text, thus you need a marker to signify a pause, or change of thought. Commas help differentiate various parts of a sentence for your readers. Sentences lacking commas are often referred to as run-on sentences, because readers have a difficult time reading the entire clause in one breath.

Apostrophes

Academic discourse frowns upon the use of apostrophes, but there are times where you will need to utilize them in your work. The best example of poor usage of apostrophes are “don’t, I’m, aren’t, etc,” as stating “do not, I am, are not, etc” increases readability and portrays a professional vibe. Apostrophes are also used in the possessive form, as in “the boy’s.” There are many rules for using apostrophes, but following these basic principles clarify your prose.

Hyphens

If hyphens confuse you, know you are not alone! These tiny grammatical elements stir up quite a bit of trouble in the writing community! You can use hyphens to connect two words or numbers, increase clarity, connect prefixes and suffixes, and split words onto the next line. For example, thirty-six, ex-author, T-bone steak, and 45-degree angle are all appropriate uses of hyphens.

The next time you go to submit your prose, take a moment, and review the content for proper syntax and punctuation. Having a well written and grammatically sound paper boosts your chances of success.

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Writing As a Form of Therapy

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According to several academic writing and research studies, an independent research firm found that people, who wrote, as a form of therapy, coped with their conditions better than those who did not write about their feelings. Perhaps this is nothing out of the ordinary, as people have been writing in journals since the Stone Age, but it is interesting how the trend has transformed across several media. Whether it was painting symbols on a cave, using a feather and piece of wool, writing on a traditional notebook, or typing away one’s emotions on the computer.

Contrary to public knowledge, writing is a form of emotional therapy, in addition to school assignment, profession, or “part of life.” While some people love – and hate – writing, it provides an avenue of relief for those who cannot or do not express their emotions. Holding feelings of guilt and remorse often have deadly side effects, but when patients can write down their feelings, it is a huge relief for them and their psychiatrists. Writing, while a chore for some, provides a means of expression for feelings often kept in great secrecy from others.

Keeping a diary, in the age of Blogger and Word Press, often has a different meaning. Surprisingly though, people still keep traditional journals because they are much more secure. Even writing in Word on your computer exposes the information to anyone who wants to hack into your system, which these days is not that hard to accomplish. Public diaries exist, but often do not include these intimate feelings and expressions that are key for dealing with one’s emotions.

Paper diaries are not going anywhere, because societies are increasingly skeptical of storing information on the computer. Fear of security breaches and confidentiality scares most average people from typing rather than using pen and paper. Until their minds are at ease, it is doubtful they will ever be able to write about the same information using the computer. Virtual diaries are popular for people who use it as a form of communication or updating, rather than emotional therapy.

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