An exercise to stimulate ideas about articles you may wish to write

Here is an exercise to stimulate your creative thinking about idea generation.

In a search engine (Why don't I just say Google?), type in the word "Journal" and then a key word or two that relate to one of your methodological or substantive areas of interest.

Then, look for three title of articles that sound interesting.

After, change the titles to fit your main areas of research and scholarship. After you have done that, ask yourself what article you would like written that is close to this title.

Change the title to match an article you wish was written.

That is an an article you may wish to write!

Part I: Must I Listen to "Them"?

So, you are getting feedback from your department members on how, where, and what you should publish. 

Should you listen to"them"?

This is a tough question, and one that I think I will explore in several posts.

The first thing I want to say is that I have seen many, many faculty become obsessed with such guidance. They seek to do the right thing, follow the wisdom of the department colleagues, and drive themselves crazy in the process. Why drive themselves crazy?

First, the feedback on where, when and how to publish is often conflicting. Faculty one, the chair of T and P, says one thing. Your department chair says something else. Your mentor something else.  Follow one set of feedback, and piss someone off! I have seen many new (and not so new) faculty totally hamstrung by these conflicting messages, so much so that they wind up writing or publishing nothing!

Second,  all of their feedback may be preventing you from becoming the scholar YOU wish to be. I am convinced that your best shot and success, in the fullest sense of the word, will come from you actualizing who you wish to be, not what others want for you. 

Yes, I know that this may be a controversial post, but perhaps it starts some dialogue and discussion.

A Great Book

I just read Robert Boice's "Professor as Writers: A self-hep guide to productive writing." I have to admit, I am a bit embarrassed that I did not find it during past literature reviews for my own work. It is a 1990 book, and is a wonderful, systematic approach to writing productivity that is based-upon the author's (and other scholars) research. Readable, and outstanding in all ways. A bit dated in terms of technology, but an important book.

I have to admit it, I think in many ways it is better than my book, Practical Tips. Something to which to aspire! I think they actually complement it other well.

Reading

Do you read enough? I mean, not those things that you have to read for your classes, but those things that make you say wow?

Not reading enough can be a impediment to productivity. Over time, not reading enough can lead us to feel that our work is dull, inspired, and disconnected from various discourses.

Remember, you can also read too much, and use reading as an excuse for not writing.

Balance. Balance.Balance.

Google Docs: Now Google Drive

For those of you who use Google Docs, Google's collaborative work space, but who may not have used it in some time, it has changed. Google Drive has now replaced Google Docs- all your files have (or should have!!) been transferred automatically. While they are fairly similar, there are some organizational differences, so make sure to become familiar with it before you actually need to use it. The collaborative work tools appear to be the same, but I have not fully explored it yet. The biggest differences are in how files are arranged and organized. For a creature of habit like myself, this is going to take me a few days of adjustment.

For those of you who have not used such tools, take a look at my previously posts about Google Docs- they have changed the way I collaborate with others. I encourage your to explore how to use Google Drive with your collaborators.

An Exercise in Randomness

 Here is an exercise. Take your two most unrelated articles (in your mind) or papers, and try to think of an article that bridges the two. Is the bridge theory, method, "space," feel, perspective?

Try this a few times and see if you come up with something new. The life of a scholar is about finding new ways to view things that are often explored a great deal.

Thinking in another language

It is amazing to me how when I speak Spanish, my whole worldview shifts. I am in Mexico collecting data for a project, and speaking in Spanish every day gives me writing a different "flavor." I am not sure how to describe it other than that.

When we move outside of our own linguistic comfort zone, or perhaps many comfort zones, we are afforded new ways of thinking- this stimulates creativity.