Subject:
4/16/97 board notes
Date:
Wed, 16 Apr 1997 18:03:26 -0700
From:
Ashton Shortridge <ashton@geog.ucsb.edu>
Organization:
NCGIA - UCSB
To:
kclarke
Hi Keith,
Here are the notes for today....
WRITING MECHANICS
Where: Office, Home. Proportion varies.
When: (Office) 9-6, some evenings. (Home) evenings, weekends,
"All-Nighters"
How: Brain->keyboard, Brain->paper notes->keyboard, Brain->KB notes->KB
(also nonsequential)
Mechanical/Tools: UNIX, PC, notebook computer, WP, graphics editor, tape
recorder
Help: Have faculty,/students read sections
Sources: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Style Guide (Strunk & White), Desk
reference/Almanac, Atlas. Rightwriter - style/grammar software which
assesses jargon, grammar, triage (reading level of material).
Notes: Non-sequential, not written in manner in which paper is read.
EDITING MECHANICS
Edit while composing (some people)
Digital Draft -> Paper version (doublespaced?) marked up -> KB edits
This cycle goes at least twice for most people.
+ Copy Editor (side note, good to know proofreading symbols)
= FINAL
Basic concept is that an individual's writing mechanics listed above can
be tweaked to improve techniques.
Abundant web sources on style.
BRAINSTORMING CONCEPTS FROM DISCUSSION
[Research-related writing methods and techniqes:]
Word counting
Yellow pads/pencils
"Notebook" of research steps, methods, findings. (Handwritten or
digital)
Thinking vs typing
Discipline-specific methods and approaches
Editing handwritten version (as opposed to 1st draft on computer)
"Brilliant idea" approach - writing down
Quotations -> draft
research _and_ writing on a single workstation
outline on the fly
use of more figures
"trusting" the lit search
[Environment-related issues:]
Conditions of office
partners
"multitasking", time/use conflicts
Distractions to writing
phone
visits (including students)
meetings
Solutions - "Closing the door" - eliminating distractions