This doesn’t have to be pretty, make sense, or go into detail yet — it just needs to be words on the page.
I’ve seen lots of people talk about the idea of “writing ugly” at a high level, but not many that spell out how to do it.
Want to know the secret to getting past the blank page when you sit down to write?
Here's how I've mastered it. THREAD!
This doesn’t have to be pretty, make sense, or go into detail yet — it just needs to be words on the page.
I’ve seen lots of people talk about the idea of “writing ugly” at a high level, but not many that spell out how to do it.
Before you try to get too in-depth, create a loose framework. It should look something like:
· Intro
· Background
· Specific Points/Ideas/Tips
· Conclusion
This allows you to visualize what you'll build upon. It’s your road map.
You’ll want to focus on the middle section of your outline first. Nail down the examples or points you want to walk through.
Include internal + external resources (and quotes!) for reference. Bullet points work well here.
Once you have the middle section complete, look at it as a whole to determine what kind of background information you need to share so the reader has relevant context.
This could be a fictional scenario, a story, a quote — something that provides a backdrop.
These two parts come last. They should be similar, but not identical. (Sisters, not twins.)
Your introduction welcomes the reader with a conversational tone, while the conclusion goes over what you explained and reminds him/her of the one main takeaway.
When your ugly first draft is complete, you can then go back in to polish things up and perfect your work — but not before then. Self-editing while you write is the enemy of completion.
As the idea rolls around in your mind, you might have new thoughts/ideas to add. Let it marinate.
Want more tips like these? Get them in your inbox: https://t.co/8mIDaah3eO
More from Writing
Things we don’t learn in this article: that the author wrote David Cameron’s speeches during the period when they were intentionally underfunding the NHS and other services, directly creating the problem the author is concerned about now.
We also don’t learn that the paper it’s written in stridently supported those measures and attacked junior doctors threatening strike action over NHS cuts and long working hours, accusing them of holding the country to ransom.
We aren’t reminded that NHS funding and the future of health provision was a central part of previous election campaigns, and that attempts to highlight these problems were swiftly stomped on or diverted and then ignored by most of the press, including the Times.
I’d underline here that “corruption” doesn’t just mean money in brown envelopes: it describes a situation where much of an organisation is personally motivated to ignore, downplay or divert from malfeasance for personal reasons - because highlighting them would be bad for careers
Foges was Cameron’s speechwriter at the height of austerity; Forsyth is married to the PM’s spokesman; Danny F is a Tory peer; Parris is a former MP; Gove used to write for them regularly, and that’s before we get to professional mates-with-ministers like Shipman or Montgomerie.
Today we learn health services are brutally underfunded with scant support for hard pressed staff, although it\u2019s left unclear who is responsible for that and it appears to be an exceptional, totally unpredicted phenomenon, like a freak weather event. pic.twitter.com/StwFR7RejE
— Flying_Rodent (@flying_rodent) January 25, 2021
We also don’t learn that the paper it’s written in stridently supported those measures and attacked junior doctors threatening strike action over NHS cuts and long working hours, accusing them of holding the country to ransom.
We aren’t reminded that NHS funding and the future of health provision was a central part of previous election campaigns, and that attempts to highlight these problems were swiftly stomped on or diverted and then ignored by most of the press, including the Times.
I’d underline here that “corruption” doesn’t just mean money in brown envelopes: it describes a situation where much of an organisation is personally motivated to ignore, downplay or divert from malfeasance for personal reasons - because highlighting them would be bad for careers
Foges was Cameron’s speechwriter at the height of austerity; Forsyth is married to the PM’s spokesman; Danny F is a Tory peer; Parris is a former MP; Gove used to write for them regularly, and that’s before we get to professional mates-with-ministers like Shipman or Montgomerie.
SHORT THREAD!
Simple Writing Trick to Avoid Plagiarism when using Templates
This may be useful for anyone but the examples here are more relevant to scholarship applicants
In other words, how to avoid the copy & paste syndrome.
Kindly RT to help others.
The past week brought some concerns about plagiarism in scholarship documents. For example:
Plagiarism is unacceptable at any level in academia and may lead to several undesirable outcomes, including revocation of admission offers or conferred degrees. So here is how you can prevent or rid yourself of the copy&paste syndrome
1. Don't use any template at all.
Just follow the darn instructions, or use helpful tips scattered all over the internet. Worry less about perfection.
I understand this may be hard for less experienced scholars. So if you must use a template, continue with the thread.
2. If possible, find more than one template.
This helps you identify the flow of ideas and the commonalities in the template. You can then develop your own unique document from this knowledge.
If you are still confused and must use a template, continue with the thread
Simple Writing Trick to Avoid Plagiarism when using Templates
This may be useful for anyone but the examples here are more relevant to scholarship applicants
In other words, how to avoid the copy & paste syndrome.
Kindly RT to help others.
The past week brought some concerns about plagiarism in scholarship documents. For example:
I got a call from the recruitment office at a Canadian university today and the issue was most of the Nigerians who applied there have almost the same Statement of Purpose letters. Please show originality in your applications, use your own words......1/3
— Tosin AJ (@ajibz_tosin) January 20, 2021
Plagiarism is unacceptable at any level in academia and may lead to several undesirable outcomes, including revocation of admission offers or conferred degrees. So here is how you can prevent or rid yourself of the copy&paste syndrome
1. Don't use any template at all.
Just follow the darn instructions, or use helpful tips scattered all over the internet. Worry less about perfection.
I understand this may be hard for less experienced scholars. So if you must use a template, continue with the thread.
2. If possible, find more than one template.
This helps you identify the flow of ideas and the commonalities in the template. You can then develop your own unique document from this knowledge.
If you are still confused and must use a template, continue with the thread
