Befriending the writing process

By Tania Bakas

I’ve always engaged with the writing process as if signing up for fitness bootcamp. No pain, no gain, right? I anticipate suffering; at its worst to be wallowing in self-pity and existential angst, and when it’s all done and submitted, a rush of endorphins will instantly erase all the pain and doubt that ever plagued me. That’s for a class paper. Now, I am here faced with my Goliath of papers: my thesis. 

I have been diligently attending the Research Hub writing retreats to help me with my writing for several months now. The talks and workshops have been insightful and writing alongside my peers helps me stay motivated and productive. The October 2nd interview with Dr. Cher Hill had a profound impact on my writing. Thanks to the invaluable tips shared during her talk I have finally parted ways with my inner writing drill sergeant and have adopted a gentler, kinder, and much more effective approach. Here are a few of her tips with my own reflections on how these helped transform my relationship with the writing process:     

Think about your research in different contexts and for different audiences

There are many opportunities to present or discuss your research with new audiences, such as participating in the Three Minute Thesis competition. Presenting your work, jargon free, in just 2 minutes, really helps you see your research in a new light, is a great knowledge translation exercise and good practice for thesis defense or conference presentations. The Faculty of Education Research Hub recently started offering biweekly Interdisciplinary Research Seminars for Education graduate students and faculty to share their research in an intimate and supportive environment. My participation in these events has been instrumental in my writing progress.

Importance of having community

You don’t have to do this alone. There are ample spaces for graduate students to connect, both virtually and in-person. Attend a Hub writing retreat, join the Research Matters Canvas space to engage in discussions with peers, or plan writing dates with fellow cognate/cohort mates. You will find yourself being more productive, benefiting from the peer support and being more accountable to your own work. 

Thesis first!

Regarding accountability to your work, if your writing isn’t a priority, there will always be something that bumps it off your to-do list. Make a commitment to your writing, even if it’s 15-30 minutes a day. Dr. Hill also recommended trying timed writing. Set a timer and just write! 

Let go of perfection in the beginning and write with no constraints

Striving for perfection from the beginning can make us fixate on the details and slow the creative process down. I loved Dr. Hill’s encouragement to let ideas brew throughout the day, recognize that writing is going to take time, accept it as part of the process and trust it. There will be plenty opportunities for revisions and reworking as you go along. I found this tip very helpful in quieting my inner critic and embracing my rough ramblings for the polished gems they are to become (I trust!).

Work holistically

Finally, my greatest take away from Dr. Hill’s interview was her sharing that when her own writing makes her cry, she knows she’s on to something. Golden advice, to work intuitively, dare to stray from the boundaries of linear writing and work on everything at the same time. It can be difficult to see progress but then it all comes together. Write your story first and then start pulling in the literature, the theories, the stats, the data.

I’m reminded of a rock tumbler I gifted my godson. You throw rocks, grit and water into a barrel and let it tumble for many hours; it’s loud, often irritating, and yet you trust the process; you know you’ll get polished rocks by the end of it. The holistic writing process, much like a rock tumbler, invites all into the barrel, the ideas, the ramblings, literature, data, stats, theories, and a dash of trust, and then let it tumble… revise, revise, rework, rework and when it’s ready, bam, a polished writing gem!

If these bits have awakened the writing muse, there are more tips-gems shared by Dr. Hill you wouldn’t want to miss! I encourage you to have a listen to her interview by Kari Gustafson which was recorded and shared on the IDEAS podcast. All of the writing resources, tips and references shared by Dr. Hill during her interview are available on the Research Matters Canvas space. 

Happy writing!