Winning the Publications Game - 4th Edition (2016)

Know the game 3
This book divides the process of writing into 10
easy steps. Some of the main problems that this book
addresses, and the chapters where their resolution may
be found, are given in Figure 1.1. What I hope shines
through is that, despite the inevitable episodes of pain
(such as these opening seven paragraphs which took
more than 20 drafts), writing should be fun. It should
also be rewarding and even liberating. This is not an
impossible dream: it depends more than anything else
on the writer’s frame of mind, and therefore should be
easy to fix.
If that sounds like one of those motivational books,
so be it. That is precisely what I hope this book will be.
FIGURE 1.1 Common problems faced by writers
I don’t have enough time to write see Chapters 2, 3
I haven’t got any good ideas see Chapter 3
I don’t know how to get started see Chapter 3
I write too much see Chapters 3, 4
I find it difficult to stop researching see Chapter 4
I find it difficult to structure my writing see Chapter 5
I find writing slow and painful see Chapter 6
I make mistakes of spelling and/or see Chapter 7
grammar
I don’t know when to write the title and see Chapter 8
abstract
Other people keep changing what I write see Chapter 9
I don’t know whom to send my article to see Chapter 10
I don’t know if I’ve written a good article see Chapters 1, 10