Interlude: Relationships, Reverse Outlines, and “Academic Year” Resolutions
Fall is in the air! On my morning walks with the little guy, I'm starting to feel the crisp air of the fall season. I love that feeling.
Fall also marks the start of the academic year. I know that many researchers like to set New "Academic Year" Resolutions, such as submitting more grant proposals or papers. Although I'm technically not on an academic calendar, I still see this time as a great opportunity to revisit my goals for the year and reinvigorate my energy to accomplish them.
What goals do you have for this academic year? Reply to this email to let me know. I'd love to hear from you.
Now onto my latest curated round-up of the best tips, tools, and resources on scientific and medical writing.
💌 Round-up
🎉 Featured
Building Meaningful Relationships and a Positive Reputation With Your Clients and Colleagues
I'm so delighted that my presentation on building relationships at the Pacific Coast Conference was featured in AMWA NorCal's Pacemaker newsletter. If you'd like to see the presentation, the article tells you how you can get access to the recording.
💻 From My Desk
How to Find Problems in Your Draft with a Reverse Outline
Have you reviewed a document and thought that the organization was off, but you couldn’t pinpoint the problem? A great way to help you find the problem is to create a reverse outline.
📆 Upcoming
Enlighten Experts with Simple Language: The Power of Plain Language in Scientific Writing – September 26/28, 2022
I'm so excited to facilitate a workshop for the Master of Science in Clinical Investigation program at Vanderbilt University. We'll be discussing my favorite topic: the value of using simple language to enlighten expert readers.
Writing Journal Club – October 19, 2022, 11 am PT
Join me and fellow scientists, clinicians, and trainees as we explore the strengths and weaknesses of a scientific or medical manuscript.
👓 Reading
White House Pushes Journals to Drop Paywalls on Publicly Funded Research
"The policy, hailed by researchers as 'transformational,' will be fully in place by 2026 and make publicly financed research available immediately at no cost."
GRReaT expectations: are editable templates the future of manuscript writing?
"Authors may soon be able to use the GoodReports.org website to generate a manuscript template incorporating the recommended reportable items from the most appropriate set of EQUATOR reporting guidelines."
Clear Writing Q&A with Ben Riggs from Kettering Health
"In this engaging interview, Ben Riggs confronts the assumptions that lead to unclear communication and shows us the empathy that we should have for readers facing life-changing decisions."
🎧 Listening
Top 10 Tips for Writing Your Scientific Paper
In this podcast, the Editor-in-Chief of Radiology and a scientific editor share their top 10 tips for writing a scientific paper.
🖥️ Watching
How to Use Writing to Sharpen Your Thinking
In this 6-minute video, Tim Ferriss offers some great tips on how to use writing to improve your thinking, revise your drafts, and seek advice from others who review your writing.
💭 Thoughts
Even the best writers need editors.
Olympians have coaches. CEOs have mentors. Presidents have advisors.
An editor will help you become the best writer you can be.
Thank you so much for reading.
Warmly,
Crystal
