The Productive Graduate Student Writer

by Jan E Allen, Chris M. Golde (Foreword)

This book is for graduate students--and others--who want to become more productive writers. It's especially written for those who want • increase their motivation, focus, and persistence to move a project to completion• overcome procrastination and perfectionistic tendencies• reduce (or write in spite of) their anxiety and fear of writing• manage their time, work, energy (and advisor) for greater productivityThe process or craft of sustained writing is not a matter that’s taught to undergraduate or graduate students as part of their studies, leaving most at sea about how to start a practice that is central to a career in academe and vital in many other professional occupations.This book grew out of conversations Jan Allen has held with her graduate students for over 30 years and reflects the fruit of the writing workshops and boot camps she has conducted at three universities, her own and numerous colleagues’ experiences with writing and advising, as well as the feedback she receives from her popular Productive Writer listserv.While Jan Allen recognizes that writing is not an innate talent for most of us, she demonstrates that it is a process based on skills which we can identify, learn, practice and refine. She focuses both on the process and habits of writing as well as on helping you uncover what kind of writer are you, and reflect on your challenges and successes. With a light touch and an engaging sense of humor, she proposes strategies to overcome procrastination and distractions, and build a writing practice to enable you to become a more productive and prolific writer.Jan Allen proposes that you read one of her succinct chapters – each devoted to a specific strategy or writing challenge – each day, or once a week. When you find one that increases your concentration, motivation or endurance, make it a habit. Try it for two weeks, charting the resulting increased productivity. It will become part of your repertoire of writing and productivity tools to which you can progressively add.

Genres: Nonfiction, Writing

220 pages, Paperback

Published June 21, 2019

Reviews

[Kelly Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a doctoral student who is about mid-way through the dissertation process (and struggling to finish), I found this book very helpful. My university put together a writing boot camp (inspired by Jan Allen) and her book was recommended. I found the boot camp so helpful that I immediately purchased the book to find out what other helpful advice I could find from Dr. Allen. I only wish I had had this book prior to starting my dissertation. I consider myself to be a very organized person; however, considering that a had never written a dissertation before, some of the organizational tips and strategies to stay on task would have been so helpful from the start and would have made a positive difference. Nevertheless, the book was motivating, and I was still able to find some tools that I can start implementing now and in the future. I would definitely recommend this to someone starting their PhD.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

The advice in this book is all very good, and it's compressed into an easily digestible monograph that will literally take no more than an hour to read. That said, it differs little (if at all) from the listserv postings that she's been making about productivity for years. Indeed, she even calls some chapters "postings" at moments.

[Chandler Hendrickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some great advice for anyone wanting or needing to write, not just grad students.

[MindOverMatter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well-written & useful book. I enjoyed reading it.

It provides both, motivation and reasonable and useful strategies.
In addition, it is succinct & to the point and the advice is very timely.