How time flies! It’s already been one week since the writing routine workshop!!! I hope everyone is writing more and trying out new writing routine components. I asked the workshop attendees how they are doing and these are the responses I’ve received thus far.

Dr. Eun Young Choi
Writing project: K01 (as a part of the Grant Writing Bootcamp)

1. Over the past week, has your writing increased?
Yes, but I'd say due to taking the bootcamp course and having to write for each week's assignment.

2. Have you tried any new writing techniques this past week? If so, which one did you try and how did it work for you?
Yes. I wanted to have a clean desk, so I cleaned my desk. I think it helped. My original plan of going to the library early morning to write was too ambitious and didn't work. I also created time for writing, but it actually spilled over for more hours... so it doesn't feel like I have a regular writing routine, but rather working on homework for the Proposal Bootcamp.

3. What will you do this week to help accomplish your writing goal?
I think I'm already doing a decent job meeting my writing goals as part of the Bootcamp.
—>Response: You are truly an inspiration! I want to write more like you! I think it’s great that writing has become like homework, that way you hold yourself accountable and complete your grant application components. Nice job and keep it up!

Yan Min
Writing project: Finish my F31 by the last week of November and another paper by the end of October —> Wow, ambitious! I like it!

1. Over the past week, has your writing increased?
I think I get less frustrated when I am writing, also I writes more than I usually do.

2. Have you tried any new writing techniques this past week? If so, which one did you try and how did it work for you?
Yes, I try not to edit while I am writing, it works like a charm for the first round of writing… somehow still painful for the second round… I end up rewriting everything… do you have any tips?
—>Response: You know, this is a tough one. I myself have written whole pages of text and then when I re-read through it at the end of the day (or even at the end of my writing session), I want to toss the whole thing in the trash because it is not eloquent or is not able to successfully capture what I am trying to say. I think it’s difficult, but with each edit you have to try and find something that you like or something that you think could work and improve on it. Slowly, by editing or re-writing, it will evolve into something slightly less repulsive… and then when you cannot fix it by yourself anymore, you can ask others to read it for more feedback — often these things need a fresh set of eyes. It’s a painful process, but a necessary one that at the end will not only help your writing, but also help you understand how to better communicate your science to others.

3. What will you do this week to help accomplish your writing goal?
This week I am wrapping up my specific aims and biosketch for the F31. I will also have a first draft of significance and innovation for the F31 completed as well. Then I am going to outline the results part of the paper.
—>Response: Sounds like a great plan! Keep it up!

Dr. Harini Iyer
Writing project: K99

1. Over the past week, has your writing increased?
Ugh, I have been terrible. I have been reading some more background material and I also have a journal club this week. At least I am presenting a paper that is the basis for my aims 2 and 3.

2. What will you do this week to help accomplish your writing goal?
I intend to start this weekend and hope to have more positive comments for you next week.
—>Response: No worries. I had a very busy week too and plan to get back to writing next week as well! You got this!

Dr. Jennifer Kong
Writing project: Paper Draft

1. Over the past week, has your writing increased?
Gahhhh… No, it’s actually decreased!!! A week of travel and preparation for a talk has destroyed my writing time.

2. What will you do this week to help accomplish your writing goal?
On a positive note, I did have to prepare figures for my talk — so, with figures in hand, next week I plan to start tackling the results section! Goal #1: Outline the results to better see the skeleton of the paper. Goal #2: Start to write the introduction to address how I will frame the paper.