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

mail

email

Solutions - "Closing the door" - eliminating distractions