Interlude: Formatting, Abstracts, and Community Reviews

Do you grumble when you need to format a manuscript to meet journal guidelines?

I've formatted a lot of manuscripts for journals, and I'll admit that I don't always find the process fun.

Sometimes the process is easy, such as when journals have the philosophy of "your paper, your way." In other words, the journal allows you to submit the manuscript in (mostly) whatever format you'd like, but you don't have to go through the rigmarole of full formatting unless the manuscript gets accepted.

Other times, the journal guidelines have very specific requirements, such as using midline decimal points in all the numbers. These changes can be incredibly tedious and time-consuming.

And if the manuscript gets rejected, you have to do it all over again for the next journal you will submit to. This process can waste time, energy, and money.

But what if we created a good middle ground? What if all journals allowed us to submit a paper that fits some universal guidelines? And then we'd only have to go through the formatting rigamarole if the paper is accepted?

That's exactly what the author in this Nature article suggests:

"...the authors recommend a “golden-middle” solution that would allow researchers to submit manuscripts without following specific formatting demands, but instead abiding by minimal structural requirements such as total word count."

I think this suggestion is a great solution to save researchers time and energy.

What do you think?

Onto the round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

How to Write a Great Abstract for Your Manuscript
The abstract is the first (and sometimes only) part of your paper that people will read. To write a great abstract, you need to write an overview that covers the main story and a few essential details of the work so that your readers get a clear summary of your paper.
 

📆 Upcoming

Find Your Flow: Connect Ideas to Guide Readers Through Your Writing – October 28, 2023
I'm thrilled to be invited to speak at the upcoming American Medical Writers Association conference in Baltimore, MD. I'll be speaking about how to synthesize your writing to create a smooth flow that guides readers through your writing with ease. Registration for the conference just opened, and you can get the early bird rates until the end of June.

👓 Reading

Abstracts matter more than you think – and writing a good one is hard
"A good abstract can make or break your paper. It is the first thing that readers, editors and reviewers see. And it might be your only chance to communicate your findings to a wider audience. So investing time in writing a clear and concise abstract is a must."

Comparing scientific abstracts generated by ChatGPT to real abstracts with detectors and blinded human reviewers
"In this study, we found that both humans and AI output detectors were able to identify a portion of abstracts generated by ChatGPT, but neither were perfect discriminators... We anticipate that this technology could be used in both an ethical and unethical way....to entirely falsify research...to decrease the burden of writing and formatting... [and] to improve equity."

Community Members as Reviewers of Medical Journal Manuscripts
"The researchers concluded that, with training, supervision, and compensation, community members can review manuscripts submitted to medical journals and provide useful feedback to editors. They recommended that medical journals broaden their understanding of who can be an expert in the scientific review process to include trained community members, because they can provide valuable and complementary feedback to scientific reviews."

📝 Challenge

Do you support the idea of a "golden-middle" solution to formatting manuscripts for submission to academic journals? Head over to Change.org to sign a petition that supports the movement.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Inclusion, Diversity, and Implicit Bias

This month, we're celebrating Pride with the LGBTQ+ community around the globe.

And what better time to talk about how we can communicate about LGBTQ+ and other diverse communities with inclusive language that acknowledges diversity, shows respect, honors identities, promotes equitability, and cultivates belonging.

At Redwood Ink, we are committed to supporting diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in everything we do. That's why we check all documents for inclusive and bias-free language, regardless of the level of editing requested.

We also created an Inclusive Language Course to help you learn everything you need to know about adopting bias-free language that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the health sciences.

And during the month of June, you can get half off your enrollment (that's lifetime access for less than $15). And 10% of your payment will go to the Health Equity Initiative. Just use the code "pride23" at checkout.

Enroll in the Inclusive Language Course

I also encourage you to share the code with your colleagues and friends. You can simply forward this email to them. The more we can promote inclusive language, the more we can work together to support diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in every aspect of our lives.

Happy Pride! 🏳️‍🌈

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

Inclusive Language Matters: Recommendations for Health Care Providers to Address Implicit Bias and Equitable Health Care
Stigmatizing language can fuel implicit bias among health care professionals. And these biases can lead to unintentional negative effects in how these professionals care for patients. With guidelines from the AMA Manual of Style, health care providers can adopt inclusive language to reduce implicit bias and address disparities in health care.

👓 Reading

Unpacking “Disabled,” Reclaiming Disability
"Many people have chosen to reclaim the word “disabled” for themselves. Understanding why can help us create materials that resonate with our audiences.”

Inclusive Language Playbook: Writing for LGBTQ+ Communities
"A running theme that you’ll notice right away is our recommendation to discuss language in communication materials and to test those materials with your priority audiences whenever possible. This helps us write messaging that’s inclusive, representative, and effective."

🧰 Tools

Project Implicit
"The Implicit Association Test (IAT) measures attitudes and beliefs that people may be unwilling or unable to report. The IAT may be especially interesting if it shows that you have an implicit attitude that you did not know about."

I recently took one of these tests and found the process really interesting. I highly recommend that you take the time to check them out and test your own attitudes. 

📝 Challenge

Open the most recent draft of your writing or presentation. Review the text and make any revisions needed to use inclusive language.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Paper, Possibility, and Productive Communication

Someone once asked me, "What do you think is the greatest invention?"

So many things came to my mind: the wheel, the lightbulb, motor cars, penicillin, the Internet. My mind flooded with options.

What was their answer?

Paper.

I was so surprised. Paper didn't even occur to me. But paper has added incredible value to our lives.

Before the digital era, we used paper to write letters, record history, share news, develop ideas, document policies, create art, print money, and so much more. Paper has been the gateway to modern life and to many other inventions. And paper has been essential for documenting the science that has led to the advances we make today.

Even though paper has been a powerful tool in science, many of us overlook this power and, instead, feel dread when we need to fill a blank page with words.

But a blank page—analog or digital—has incredible power. That power is possibility.

Now onto this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

12 Powerful Ways to Persuade Your Reviewers
Many authors believe that they need to use hyperboles and adjectives like “cutting-edge” and “novel” to be persuasive. But these phrases only inflate writing. To persuade effectively, you need more than a few embellished words or phrases.

👓 Reading

Carl Braun’s Writing Lessons for Clear Thinking and Productive Communication
"Most people write to sound smart when they should write to be useful.
Communicating to sound smart lowers your potential for impact. The harder people have to work to understand you, the less they want your input.
Writing to be useful means writing what you would want to read."

The Importance of Powerful Storytelling in Writing
In this article Ben gives excellent advice on how writers can connect with readers: “My advice: envision the sentence as a walking trail or path. A writer’s job is not to bludgeon readers and drag them through the sentence. A writer’s job is to clear the path of problems to let readers enjoy walking along at their own pace.”

🧰 Tools

ImpactStory
Do you want to know the online impact of your research? This tool will help you track buzz on Twitter, blogs, news outlets, and more. "We're like Google Scholar for your research's online reach."

📝 Challenge

The next time you're confronted with a blank page, take a moment to shift your mindset and remember that a blank page is filled with possibility.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Work, Play, and Fun

Have you heard the mantra, "Work hard, play hard"? I'm not a fan of this mindset. I think it's a recipe for burnout, to say the least.

Instead, I believe in a quote by Simon Sinek: “The goal is not simply to 'work hard, play hard.' The goal is to make our work and our play indistinguishable.”

I think that play and fun are important parts of making work joyful. When I worked at a grocery store in high school, I enjoyed playing Tetris while packing customer'’ groceries. In graduate school, we played Pipette-Tip Box Battleship, Dry Ice Hockey, and Conical Tube Bowling between experiments.

And now, I am very fortunate that my work is also my play.

When I have a project to work on, I don't think, "I have to work on this project." I think, "I get to play with words!"

I don't think, "I have to meet with a client." I think, "I get to help my client figure out how to solve their pain points in their writing."

I don't think, "I have to meet with my students." I think, "I get to bring a group of brilliant people together for rich discussions about topics I'm passionate about."

Sure, I have moments when I find my work challenging, and I need to add some extra fun to my day. And that's what I want to do with this week's newsletter.

Let's take a break from the usual serious stuff. Here are a few things that I hope will add a little fun and joy to your day.

💌 Round-up

👓 Reading

Heart and Brain Comics - The Awkward Yeti
I laugh every time one of these comics shows up in my feed. I love how Nick Seluk creatively depicts the body's organs and how they react to life scenarios. Two of my favorites are Bad Tongue and Exercise Wasteland.

What word is your spelling nemesis?
As a word nerd, I follow the Merriam-Webster Dictionary on Instagram. Recently, they asked their followers what word is their spelling nemesis. I can totally relate to the list. My spelling nemesis is "guarantee." I always second-guess whether the "a" or "u" comes first. I also still find myself saying "pee-oh-plee" whenever I type "people," which is a remnant of my childhood struggle to spell "people" correctly.

What word is your spelling nemesis?

🖥️ Watching

The Meeting to Decide Time Periods
Many authors use the term "bi-weekly" in their writing without realizing that this term can mean either "twice per week" or "twice per month." In this Instagram post, the creator does a funny role-play of the nuances between these words and other words that describe time. I find many of his posts informative and entertaining as he dissects nuances of the English language in these role-play scenarios.

🧰 Tools

I'm listing this game under this category because it's a tool to exercise your brain. Whenever I need a few minutes to reset, I head over to The New York Times to solve the daily puzzle. I typically start with the word "audio". But according to information theory, the best words to start with are either "soare" or "slane".

What word do you start with?

📝 Challenge

Take a moment to think about what parts of your work are the most fun or joyful. Can you add a little more of those things to your days?

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Writing, Thinking, and Opportunity

I hear a lot of authors say that writing is hard. But I think this view masks the real challenge.

I would argue that writing is not hard because the writing itself is hard. Writing is hard because the thinking needed to write is hard.

But what if we shift our perspective away from viewing writing (or the thinking needed to write) as hard? What if we think about writing as an opportunity?

Writing is an opportunity to refine our thinking.

I think this framing can help us shift our mindset in a more positive direction. We can train our thoughts away from the (potential) dread of hard work to the opportunity for refinement.

I also think that if writing is an opportunity to refine our thinking, then the principles we use to refine our writing can also help us to refine our thinking.

In my Scientific Writing Masterclass, you'll learn principles for refining your writing that can help you refine your thinking.

Today is the last day to enroll in the next session. I'd be thrilled to have you!

Now for this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

📆 Upcoming

Scientific Writing Masterclass – Starts the week of May 29, 2023
Want to take your writing—and thinking—to the next level this summer? Join the Scientific Writing Masterclass. Registration closes today at 6 pm Pacific Time.

👓 Reading

How to Think Better: The Skill You’ve Never Been Taught
"Good writing requires good thinking...Clear writing gives poor thinking nowhere to hide. A lack of understanding, which was previously invisible, becomes suddenly visible. You can’t simply take a few minutes here and there, get the gist of the problem, and expect to have clear writing. It doesn’t work that way."

🖥️ Watching

How to Use Writing to Sharpen Your Thinking
In this 6-minute video, Tim Ferriss offers some great tips on how to use writing to improve your thinking, revise your drafts, and seek advice from others who review your writing. 

🧰 Tools

Tools for better thinking
This website shares a collection of thinking tools and frameworks that can help you to solve problems, make decisions, and understand systems.

💬 Quote

"Many people assume they are bad at writing because it is hard. This is like assuming you are bad at weightlifting because the weight is heavy.

Writing is useful because it is hard. It's the effort that goes into writing a clear sentence that leads to better thinking." – James Clear
 
 

📝 Challenge

Write the phrase "Writing is an opportunity to refine my thinking" on a sticky note and place the note near your computer. Every time you sit down to write, read the note first.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Learning, Investing, and Effective Writing

I love to learn. I think that's what drew me to scientific research. I loved deciphering the why and how of things.

And although I'm no longer a scientific researcher, I still love deciphering the why and how of things, especially writing.

I've spent the past decade learning why and how to write well. I've taken courses, read books, scoured the literature, listened to podcasts, attended seminars and conferences, and much more.

It's been hard work learning how to write well by gathering pieces of advice from various places and then figuring out how the pieces should be put together.

But it's been well worth the investment.

And I believe that the best investment you can make is an investment in yourself.

But I also know that not everyone has the time (or nerdiness) to learn to write the way that I did. And most institutions do not offer adequate training in writing.

That's why I created my Scientific Writing Masterclass. I want to make learning to write well easier, faster, and more enjoyable for you.

So I took the best of what I've learned over the past 10 years and combined it with my 20 years of experience in teaching to create a course that will help you learn all the pieces and how to put them together in the easiest and most systematic way possible.

I know that joining the masterclass is an investment, both in money and—more importantly—time. And I also know that if you learn to write better, faster, and easier, those investments will come back to you many times over.

Take it from Lola R., a professional writer who just completed the masterclass:

“As a writer, I needed insights into the writing process to deliver impactful and concise work. The Scientific Writing Masterclass helped me to bridge that gap. Throughout the past 12 weeks, I have learned insightful and practical ways to write and expand on core ideas. This program paves the way to confidence in writing, not just for those in research but all writers. I now write confidently and use a systemic writing approach to create pieces that impact a reader's informed decision-making. The Scientific Writing Masterclass delivers valuable information with easy usage in a reasonable time frame.”

If you want to know what others are saying about the Scientific Writing Masterclass, head over to the course website. You'll also learn all the ways the course will help you learn to write well.

And if you have any questions, please reach out. I'd be delighted to hear from you.

Now for this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

🎉 Featured

How to Write More Effective CME Content through Conscious Communication
In this article, Alex Howson frames our podcast conversation for writers in continuing medical education.

"...you have to be skilled in your craft to create effective content for your audience. This goes beyond simply speaking to their interests, sharing facts and information, or even presenting new ideas and concepts in an easily digestible way. To form strong, impactful connections with your audience through the written word, you have to understand how they feel and speak to their emotions."

Bonus tip: If you check out the podcast episode, you'll find a discount for the masterclass.
 

💻 From My Desk

Why You Need a Writing Journal Club and How to Create One
Although many academic institutions have journal clubs, these clubs tend to focus on content, such as sound methods, accurate findings, and convincing interpretations. But very few focus on the writing itself. In a writing journal club, you can help participants develop their writing skills.

Interested in joining a writing journal club? We will have three club sessions in my upcoming Scientific Writing Masterclass.
 

📆 Upcoming

Open Office Hours – May 18, 2023, 11 am Pacific Time
Have questions about scientific and medical writing? Join me for a live Q&A conversation. You can bring your questions to the session or submit them in advance on the registration form.

Scientific Writing Masterclass – Starts the week of May 29, 2023
Want to take your writing to the next level this summer? Join the masterclass to transform your writing into clear, concise, and compelling stories. Space is limited. Registration closes on May 19, 2023, or when the class is full.

👓 Reading

Unlock the Power of Effective Writing: Insights from Steven Pinker
"...Cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker suggests several strategies:

1. Use concrete nouns and refer to tangible things instead of abstractions.

2. Assume that readers know less about the topic than you do, but are still intelligent and sophisticated.

3. Have someone from the intended audience read your work and provide feedback.

4. Allow time between writing and editing, so you can approach your own work with fresh eyes."

💬 Quote

"Ultimately, there’s one investment that supersedes all others: Invest in yourself. Nobody can take away what you’ve got in yourself, and everybody has potential they haven’t used yet." — Warren Buffet
 

📝 Challenge

Take a moment to think about the goals you want to accomplish in the next 5 years. Then take one step toward investing in that goal. Do you want to run a marathon? Create a training plan. Do you want to level up your writing skills? Enroll in the Scientific Writing Masterclass.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Learning Levels, Core Principles, and Keywords

Did you know that there are different levels of learning?

I recently learned about four levels of learning that really resonated with me.

The first level is unconscious incompetence. At this level, you are not aware of the gap in your skills or knowledge.

The second level is conscious incompetence. At this level, you are aware that you need to learn new skills or gain new knowledge. This level is where learning really begins.

The third level is conscious competence. At this level, you know how to use your new skills or knowledge, but doing so requires practice, thought, and hard work.

And the fourth level is unconscious competence. At this level, your new skills or knowledge are fully integrated and automatic.

In other words...

unconscious incompetence—you don't know what you don't know.
conscious incompetence—you know what you don't know.
conscious competence—you know what you know.
unconscious competence—you intuitively know what you know.

These levels of learning resonated with me because I've seen my students (and clients) level up their learning and grow from unconscious incompetence to unconscious competence. And seeing this growth has been incredibly rewarding.

If you want to level up your learning and master the craft of writing, enroll in my Scientific Writing Masterclass. I'd be delighted to arm you with the principles and systems you need to level up your writing.

And here's the latest round-up...

💌 Round-up
  

📆 Upcoming

Scientific Writing Masterclass – Starts the week of May 29, 2023
The masterclass is back! Learn how to transform your writing into clear, concise, and compelling stories. Space is limited. Registration closes on May 19, 2023, or when the class is full.

👓 Reading

Video abstracts are associated with an increase in research reports citations, views and social attention: a cross-sectional study
"...video abstracts are associated with a worthwhile increase in the number of views of research reports. They are also associated with an increase in citations and social attention, although the association may be small."

Fraud Alert: Scammers Steal Money From the Public Through Fake HHS Websites and Social Media Schemes
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG) is alerting the public to a fraud scheme that uses social media and fake websites to steal money from individuals by offering fake HHS grants."

🧰 Tools

MeSH Browser
When you choose keywords for your manuscript, do you tend to just pick the most-used words in your paper? If so, you could be missing an important opportunity. By choosing keywords found in the MeSH Browser, you can ensure your paper gets indexed correctly in PubMed, which helps potential readers find your paper more easily.

💬 Quote

"When you first start to study a field, it seems like you have to memorize a zillion things. You don’t. What you need is to identify the core principles – generally three to twelve of them – that govern the field. The million things you thought you had to memorize are simply various combinations of the core principles.” – John T. Reed

(If you want to learn the core principles of scientific writing, we cover them in the Scientific Writing Masterclass.) 

📝 Challenge

Review the keywords you chose for your most recent manuscript. Are they in the MeSH Browser as an exact match or fragment? Could you have chosen better keywords or keyword fragments?

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: News, Strategies, and Success

I have some exciting news...

The Scientific Writing Masterclass is back!

And I've updated the content and redesigned the live sessions so that you get even more value out of every minute you dedicate to the course.

You can get all the details on the course website. But here's a preview:

By the end of the course, you'll be able to:

• Communicate your ideas more effectively

• Express your ideas in a clear, compelling way

• Teach and inform readers without confusion

• Craft stories that engage and persuade readers

• Write concisely to meet word and page limits

• Make your work more accessible, fundable, and citable

Here's what you'll get:

• 70+ video lessons released in themed batches over 12 weeks

• 12 live sessions with me and your classmates for office hours, group coaching, peer reviews, and writing journal clubs

• 200+ examples to help you learn

• Downloadable templates, cheat sheets, and checklists

• Unlimited access to the course for as long as we offer it (that's right!)

• Certificate of completion

The course starts on May 29, 2023 (just in time for you to finish that looming paper or proposal while you soak up the summer sunshine).

Registration closes on May 19, 2023, at 6 pm Pacific time (or when the class is full).

And for being part of the Redwood Ink community, you get an early-bird savings of $100. Use the coupon code "community" at checkout (expires May 1).

Get all the course details and enroll

I'd be absolutely thrilled to have you in the course. If you have any questions about the course, hit reply. I'm always delighted to hear from you.

And now for the weekly round-up...

💌 Round-up

🎉 Featured

A snippet from My Interview with a Business Coach for Medical Writers
If you're considering a career in medical writing, check out this snippet from my conversation with Sophie Ash of Prospology about figuring out what aspect of medical writing you want to pursue.
 

💻 From My Desk

7 Writing Strategies to Help You Get Your Science Research Funded and Cited
Did you forget to register for yesterday's webinar? No worries! Because you are a member of the Redwood Ink community, you can watch the replay until May 1. And if you watch till the end, I'll give you a gift for sharing your time with me. Passcode to watch: mindset

🎧 Listening

Writing Your Own Success Story as a Freelance Medical Writer
If you're a freelance writer (or any kind of entrepreneur), this podcast is a must-listen. In this episode of Write Medicine, host Alex Howson talks with Jonathan Agnew about valuable tools, techniques, and mindsets for freelancers in medical writing.
 

🖥️ Watching

I learned a productivity system for organizing life
If you're looking to create an external brain to manage your notes, ideas, text excerpts, and more, I recommend checking out this video. I use a combination of Apple Notes and Notion as my external brain and have found this capturing process immensely helpful.
 

📝 Challenge

Take a few minutes to think about where you want your career to be in 5 years. Write down one thing you can do today to move toward that goal. Now go do that thing.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Momentum, Speedbumps, and Verbs

I get a lot of questions about how to be more productive and maintain momentum in writing. The one I hear most often is, "How can I get faster at writing?"

But getting faster is not always about speeding up the process. Sometimes we need to shift our mindset from thinking "What more can I do to be more productive?" to "What less can I do to be more productive?"

In other words, what speed bumps can you remove from your writing process or life to help you write faster?

"A car will travel faster not only if you press the accelerator, but also if you remove the speed bumps." – James Clear

One speed bump that I removed from my writing process was turning off all notifications on my devices so they don't distract me. That one change has really helped me maintain my momentum and productivity.

What speed bumps have you removed from your writing process?

And now onto the weekly round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

Craft Compelling Aims with Strong Verbs
"Strong verbs add clarity and energy to your aims that spark your reviewer’s curiosity and fuel their excitement. These emotions boost your reviewers’ confidence in your proposed project—enticing them to fund your proposal."

👓 Reading

The Writer's Almost Silver-Bullet: The Verb
"The verb sits comfortably, with little-to-no competition, as the sentence’s source of energy, clarity, and vividness. The verb is the most important part of effective writing, full stop. Verbs allow writers to anticipate and satisfy reader's needs for momentum and meaning."

💬 Quote

"Verbs are the most important of all your tools. They push the sentence forward and give it momentum." – William Zinsser, On Writing Well

❓ Question

What speed bump is slowing down your momentum in writing? And what's one thing you can do to remove the speed bump?
 

📝 Challenge

Open your most recent draft and highlight every verb in the text (if it's a long document, start with just the first page). Then think about each verb and whether that verb could be stronger.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Community, Advice, and Specific Questions

I have an idea. And I'd love to get your advice.

Over the past few months, I've been meeting with the students in my Scientific Writing Masterclass every week. During those meetings, I've realized how much we can benefit from connecting and exchanging information with other researchers and writers.

So, I've been giving a lot of thought to the idea of creating an online community—for you! This community would be a place where you can connect with your peers to get support, share your experience, enhance your writing skills, and solve your writing problems.

I already have some ideas for the community. But I'd love to get your advice on whether you would be interested in such a community and what benefits you would want to get by joining. This community would be for you, so I want to be sure that you get to help me design it in a way that you get the most value from it.

Would you mind taking just a few minutes to answer these 5 questions? I would be so grateful for your advice.

And now for a themed round-up on advice and feedback...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

Key Questions to Ask When Reviewing Your Grant Proposal
Constructive feedback is a valuable part of writing a grant, because you can learn how to improve your project and refine your writing. But to get the most constructive feedback, you need to ask the right questions.

👓 Reading

Why Warren Buffet Believes Feedback Is A Gift and You Should Too
"...think about feedback as a gift that you welcome with open arms any time someone is willing to offer it. The more you open yourself up to collecting feedback, the more valuable data you can collect as well."

💬 Quote

“The trick to viewing feedback as a gift is to be more worried about having blind spots than hearing about them.” – James Clear

💭 Thoughts

When you ask someone for advice, you create a partnership and collaboration.

📝 Challenge

The next time you ask a colleague to review your draft, ask them specific questions so that you can get the actionable feedback you need to improve your project and writing.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Influence, Undermining, and Hidden Messages

Have you heard the saying, "You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with”? The idea behind this saying is that the people we spend time with can unconsciously influence who we become.

I think the same concept is true for our writing.

The language we read in other people's writing can unconsciously influence the language we use in our own writing. And if we "spend the most time" with poor writing, habits of poor writing will seep into our own writing, without us even realizing it's happening.

I have a silly example of this concept that I think you might relate to if you've moved to a new state or country.

I grew up in California. And when I moved to New York for graduate school, I heard many people use the word "wicked" to add emphasis, like using the words "really" or "very." I thought this word was so strange, and I told myself that I would never use it.

Years later, I was talking to a friend and the word flew out of my mouth before I realized what I was saying. Totally (there's my California roots) unintentional. And I realized that after being exposed to "wicked" so often, the word slipped into my language by osmosis.

I believe that the same "osmotic learning" can happen as we read the literature. If we expose our minds to poor writing without being aware that the writing is poor, then we will unconsciously fuel poor habits in our own writing.

And I think this possibility is why we need to be mindful and intentional about our writing.

How have other people's writing influenced your writing? Hit reply and let me know.

And now onto the good stuff...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

How to Avoid Undermining the Conclusions of Your Research Paper
The end of a research paper is a powerful position. Yet, many researchers weaken the power of their study at the end of the paper by undermining their conclusions. Learn how misusing phrases like "More research is needed…" and "…has yet to be assessed" can erode the significance of your study.
 

👓 Reading

Elemental haiku
"A review of the Periodic Table composed of 119 science haiku, one for each element, plus a closing haiku for element 119 (not yet synthesized). The haiku encompass astronomy, biology, chemistry, history, physics, and a bit of whimsical flair."
 

🖥️ Watching

What Academics Say vs What They Mean: The Hidden Messages in Academic Jargon
In this video, YouTuber Andy Stapleton shares his funny takes on common language used among academics. Grab a cup of coffee or tea. This 8-minute video is an entertaining watch.
 

💭 Thoughts

Good writing habits are formed with diligent practice.

The more you practice the principles of good writing, the more those principles will become second nature.
 

📝 Challenge

This week, read your most recent manuscript draft or publication to see if you undermined your conclusions. If you did, think about how you could revise that text in the future.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Resistance, Plain Language, and Ableist Language

When I was in graduate school, my mentor would advise me to do a complicated experiment. Then he would say, "I know it's a lot of work" in a tone that suggested I was hesitant to do the work. But that's not my style. I'm not one to take the path of least resistance. I'm challenge-driven and will do whatever work is needed to produce the best result.

But I know that his tone was not a reflection on me. It was a reflection on other students he mentored. And he was not wrong in his approach.

Our brains are wired to take the path of least resistance to achieve what we want. And this cognitive ease principle, or the principle of least effort, influences every aspect of our lives, including our writing.

Many authors apply the cognitive ease principle to their writing in a way that creates a path of least resistance for the work they need to do to write. But they do not always think about creating a path of least resistance for the people who need to read their writing.

This shift in mindset can profoundly improve your writing. So, the next time you work on refining your draft, think about how you can create a path of least resistance for readers.

And now onto the good stuff...

💌 Round-up

🎉 Featured

Power Up Your LinkedIn Profile
I was thrilled to join Jenni Pickett of the AMWA Carolinas Chapter for a live interview on how I get the most out of LinkedIn. If you missed the live session, you can watch the recording to hear our conversation and learn how to improve your profile, customize your feed, and use Canva to create visuals.
 

👓 Reading

Examples Of Ableist Language You May Not Realize You’re Using
Ableist language—overt or subtle—can fuel stigma and bias. This article provides examples of ableist language that you might not realize you're using. And if you want a more comprehensive guide on ableist and other stigmatizing language, check out my Inclusive Language Course.

The international definition of plain language
"A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended readers can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information."
 

🖥️ Watching

Debunking the Oversimplification Myth: Making the Case for Plain Language
Many subject matter experts fear that plain language principles will oversimplify content and minimize the importance of the work. This video makes a case for using plain language for a wide range of audiences. I highly recommend that you watch the first 20 minutes.
 

📝 Challenge

This week, apply just one principle of plain language to everything you write. I recommend using shorter words and sentences, because these principles are two of the top drivers of readability.
 

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Lay Summaries, Communication Gaps, and Connection

I anticipate you might be wondering why this newsletter is a few days early. Well, I couldn't wait to share some exciting news with you.

I created a new course—and you're getting early access!

The course is called Lay Summary Fundamentals.

I've worked with a lot of researchers who put off writing the lay summary for their manuscript or project narrative for their grant until the last minute. Then they scramble to craft something that “gets the job done.” But this approach only produces a subpar lay summary that does a disservice to the work—and to science.

Lay summaries are a really important part of research. They amplify the accessibility, visibility, transparency, and impact of scientific research.

So, to help you craft an impactful lay summary, I created the Lay Summary Fundamentals course.

This course is rooted in a webinar I gave that was a huge hit. Here's what a few attendees had to say:

"I highly recommend this webinar. Crystal walked through these topics so clearly and I am excited to implement her suggestions into my writing!"

"The slides and resource materials provide a clear and practical introduction to plain language writing for specialist and general audiences."

"Great chance to learn practical tips and frameworks for how to improve the readability of your writing."

As a member of the Redwood Ink community, you're getting early access (and a deep discount!) before the course officially opens tomorrow. You can find all the details on the course website.

Now onto the (early) weekly round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

10 Helpful Tips for Communicating Research to the Public
Many researchers are most comfortable writing in an "academic style" for their colleagues. But this writing style is often confusing for nonspecialists—fueling a communication gap between researchers and the general public. These tips will help you write in a way that connects with a variety of readers, from the general public to experts in your field.

👓 Reading

A whimsical request inspired some essential writing tools
In this article, writing coach Roy Peter Clark shares a personal anthology of his thoughts on writing. "I would select my favorite bits of advice, not just from the new book, but from the six that preceded it — the kind of practical strategies that work best in my coaching and teaching."

The current state of graphical abstracts and how to create good graphical abstracts
"The key steps for creating a GA [graphical abstract] are as follows: (1) start by identifying the main message; (2) choose an appropriate visual style; (3) draw an easy-to-understand graphic; (4) use colors and other design elements; and (5) request feedback....GAs have become a crucial art for researchers to master, and their use is expected to expand in the future."
 

💭 Thoughts

One mark of a good writer is empathy for readers.

A good writer can relate to the feelings and motivations of their readers to create an emotional connection.

📝 Challenge

This week, open the most recent lay summary or project narrative that you wrote. Then ask a friend or family member who does not work in science to read it and tell you what they don't understand.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Preparation, Stories, and LinkedIn

Every morning, I take my dog, Benson, for an "adventure" around the neighborhood. He loves our adventures...except when it rains. And recently, we had quite the rain storm.

On a rainy day earlier this week, I got us ready for our morning adventure. I put on my rain gear and got Benson "suited up" in his raincoat (his coat is red, so I like to think of it as his superhero cape). And then we trudged out into the storm, anticipating feeling dread for being out in the bad weather. Only this time, I didn't feel dread. Instead, I found myself enjoying the sound of the rain and feeling gratitude for having rain gear that keeps me dry and warm. And then I realized that my gratitude was rooted in one thing.

Preparation.

Because I was prepared with the proper gear, I found myself enjoying what may people find unenjoyable. And I realized that this link between preparation and enjoyment applies to many things in our lives.

The more we can prepare, the more we can enjoy. Whether we're preparing an outline for a manuscript or practicing an upcoming presentation, we can make things easier and more enjoyable by preparing.

So, my goal for this weekend is to find a better raincoat for Benson, so that he can enjoy our rainy adventures as much as I do.

And now for this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

🎉 Featured

The Intrinsic Story Structure of Original Research Manuscripts
I'm delighted to share my latest publication in the AMWA Journal. In the article, I describe how the most common story structure—the three-act structure—maps onto the standard IMRaD structure of original research manuscripts. And I share a useful abbreviation to help you remember to include each part of this structure in your manuscript.

🖥️ Watching

The Magical Science of Storytelling
In this TEDx talk, David JP Phillips shares how storytelling is a powerful way to transfer knowledge because it induces the release of four neurotransmitters in the brain. Although "Mr. Death by Powerpoint" focuses his talk on storytelling in presentations, his tips are just as relevant to writing.

🧰 Tools

Presentation Coach (PowerPoint)
Would you like feedback on your presentations before presenting in front of others? Try the "Rehearse with Coach" feature in PowerPoint. This feature will give you a report on your pace, pitch, energy, use of filler words, and so much more. However, the feature won't report when you use these other phrases that you want to avoid in your presentations.
 

📝 Challenge

This week, open up your most recent presentation and practice with the "Rehearse with Coach" feature. Then note just one thing you can do to better prepare for your next presentation.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Writer's Block, Peer Review, and Overwhelm

I get a lot of questions about how to overcome writer's block. Almost every author reaches a point where they feel mentally blocked, and they are unable to think of what to write or how to move forward in the writing process.

But what if writer's block isn't really about being mentally blocked. What if it's actually about being emotionally drained?

I love Anne Lamott's take on writer's block in Bird by Bird: "I no longer think of it as block. I think that is looking at the problem from the wrong angle...The word block suggests that you are constipated or stuck, when the truth is that you are empty."

I think that writer's block can result from feeling unmotivated, overwhelmed, or frustrated with the writing process. These feelings can become so strong that they drain the energy we need for writing.

What's the remedy? I don't have a one-size-fits-all solution. We are all unique and have different factors that contribute to our challenges with the writing process. But if you find that you are staring at a blinking cursor for more than a few minutes, I suggest one of two things.

My first line of defense is to got for a 10-minute walk outside. A short walk often gives me a little distance from the writing—and a little nature therapy.

Another option is to write anything that comes to your mind, even "I don't know what to write" over and over again. At some point in that process, your thoughts will change and different words will flow.

How do you overcome writer's block? Hit reply and let me know!

And now onto this week's round-up...

💌 Round-up

👓 Reading

The rise and fall of peer review
This article is a longer read, but the author challenges you to think and infuses bits of humor throughout. "All we can say from these big trends is that we have no idea whether peer review helped, it might have hurt, it cost a ton, and the current state of the scientific literature is pretty abysmal. In this biz, we call this a total flop."

Stop the peer-review treadmill. I want to get off
This article offers some interesting alternatives to encouraging researchers to participate in peer review. But as the article suggests, none of the incentives gives researchers what they need most: time.

🎧 Listening

Five Ways to Reduce Overwhelm When Writing (aka Thinking)
In this episode of the Free Time podcsat, Jenny Blake shares 5 ways that she reduces overwhelm in the writing process, including: (1) collect your ideas in a central location, (2) brainstorm nonlinearly, (3) prepare content before sitting down to write, (4) ignite motivation by writing just 7 sentences, and (5) write in smaller chunks.
 

💭 Thoughts

The writing process is not hard because writing is hard.

The writing process is hard because thinking is hard.

📝 Challenge

This week, take 10 minutes to list things you can do to make your writing process easier (if you need inspiration, check out these 10 things). Then do one thing on that list to help set your future self up for success in the writing process.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Email, Utilize, and Finding Your Voice

I recently read an article in Nature about email etiquette and how to write an email that your principal investigator (or anyone) will read. The article gives some great advice for how to craft concise, actionable emails and how to follow up on them.

I agree that we can be more mindful when sending emails (which is why I carefully craft this email every week). But I also think that we could be better about how we manage our inbox.

A few years ago, I overhauled how I manage email. After reading the book 21 Days to Inbox Zero (now a web article), I completely changed how I manage my inbox. The emails still get ahead of me now and then, and I don't follow all the strategies, but I have way more control of my inbox now. And I hope that some of the strategies might work for you too.

But when you get to Day 6 or 20, I hope you won't unsubscribe from this newsletter. I'm really grateful to have you here.

Let's get to the good stuff...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

How to Accurately Use “Utilize” in Your Writing
I believe that utilize is the most misused—and overused—word in scientific and medical writing. What's the more accurate (and readable) choice? Use.

👓 Reading

Nonhuman “Authors” and Implications for the Integrity of Scientific Publication and Medical Knowledge
"Transformative, disruptive technologies, like AI language models, create promise and opportunities as well as risks and threats for all involved in the scientific enterprise."

Ready, Set, Share!
"Across many fields of science, researchers’ support for sharing data has increased during the past decade, surveys show. But given the potential cost and complexity, many are apprehensive about the NIH policy, and other requirements to follow." In this article, Science offers guidance for researchers who need to comply with the new NIH requirements for sharing data.

🎧 Listening

Find Your Writing Voice —Write Medicine podcast with Alexandra Howson 
In this short episode, Ben Riggs describes his thoughts on voice in writing: "It's an unavoidable part of writing. So being cognizant of its unavoidability, I think, is important because I think writers need to ask themselves and editorial spaces need to be aware of what is the voice they're creating with the words they're writing, or editing, and is that the voice that they're anticipating or that that the reader needs."
 

📝 Challenge

This week, use the Find feature in Word to search for "utilize" in your writing. In every instance (yes, every instance), replace utilize with use.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Language, Inclusion, and Stories

Language is powerful. It has the power to influence, persuade, and motivate.

And inclusive language has the power to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging to create a more equitable society.

But a major challenge in our using inclusive language is our unawareness.

I have worked with many researchers and clinicians who are unaware of the language they use in their writing and clinical practice. And they may not realize how their language could unintentionally—even unconsciously—fuel bias.

And I, admittedly, was once among them.

But I've prioritized learning about inclusive language so that I could do better. And now I want to help you do better too.

So, I created an Inclusive Language Course that will help you enhance your awareness of the language you use and learn current recommendations for using bias-free language in your writing, clinical practice, and daily lives.

And if you enroll, 10% of your payment will be donated to the Health Equity Initiative.

I hope you'll check it out. And if you do, let me know what you think. I'm always grateful for your feedback, because it helps me to create better resources for you.

And now onto the weekly round-up...

💌 Round-up

👓 Reading

‘Nature’: Free Open-Access Publishing for 70+ Nations’ Research
"‘Nature’ and the Nature Research journals offer free open-access publication to researchers from lower income world markets."

🎧 Listening

Nurture Connection: Tell Them a Story
I had the pleasure of meeting Ben Riggs at the AMWA conference last year, and we had one of those conversations where you wonder how the past few hours just flew by. He's a brilliant storyteller. In this podcast, he shares his thoughts on the importance of context, simplicity, and humanity in writing; that accuracy does not mean exhaustiveness; and rewriting is about selection and not compression. This episode does not disappoint.

🧰 Tools

Squarespace
I've been making some much-needed updates to my website this year. I'll continue to refine the site over time, but Squarespace has made the development process a breeze. Their user-friendly platform, thorough support, and beautiful templates are impressive. If you need to create a website for your lab or business, I highly recommend you check out Squarespace.

💬 Quote

"Language is very powerful. Language does not just describe reality. Language creates the reality it describes." —Desmond Tutu, recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize (1984)
 

📝 Challenge

Open up the latest draft of the project you've been writing and review the text to ensure you used inclusive language.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Subtraction, Errors, and Manipulation

I recently discovered an article by Derek Sivers in which he describes the value of subtracting from our lives. "Life can be improved by adding, or by subtracting. The world pushes us to add, because that benefits them. But the secret is to focus on subtracting."

I think that this concept also applies to writing. Writing can be improved by adding, or by subtracting. Removing unnecessary details and complex language will put more focus on the core ideas.

I also think that the writing process can be improved by subtracting. If we remove distractions, like cell phones and unnecessary meetings, we make room for deep work and can allocate more time to the critical thinking needed to write well.

A lot can be gained by removing the unnecessary and reducing friction.

"A car will travel faster not only if you press the accelerator, but also if you remove the speed bumps." —James Clear

And now for this week's curated round-up...

💌 Round-up

💻 From My Desk

Reduce Redundancy to Enhance Understanding
Some authors use redundant terms or phrases that unnecessarily repeat words or meanings. Check out 40 common redundancies that you can "subtract" from your writing.

👓 Reading

Magazine published serious errors in first AI-generated health article
"...it contained persistent factual mistakes and mischaracterizations of medical science that provide readers with a profoundly warped understanding of health issues...[The magazine] seems to have fallen into the same trap: seeing that AI systems like ChatGPT can easily churn out confident-sounding content, and mistaking that conviction for accuracy."

Paper-mill detector put to the test in push to stamp out fake science
“Publishers are testing prototypes of automatic systems to flag submitted manuscripts bearing the hallmarks of paper mills — businesses that produce fake research papers.”

🧰 Tools

Numerical2
While we're on the topic of subtracting, I thought I'd share my favorite calculator app. I really like the functionality and customizability of this (free!) calculator. But what I love most is that I can see the history of my calculations so I can easily compare formulas and values.
 

📝 Challenge

Open up your calendar and look at your schedule for next week. What could you remove to free up space for something that is more important to you?

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: Simplicity, Illusion, and Machines as Tools

I've been thinking a lot about simplicity in writing. Many of us have heard the mantra "keep it simple and straightforward." Yet, when it comes to scientific and medical writing, many authors use "keep it complex and confusing."

Part of this problem is rooted in the curse of knowledge, which means that we unintentionally assume that our readers know what we know. And this curse also applies to the language we use. We unintentionally assume that readers are fluent in the same "specialist" language that we use.

But another part of the problem lies in our egos. We want to "sound" smart, prestigious, or sophisticated. But complex language only gives us the illusion of these qualities.

The reality is that when we use complex language, readers will feel confused, bored, or frustrated. And they will associate those feelings with the work and with us as the authors. So, complex language creates the opposite of what we seek.

We can also greatly benefit from taking the time to explain things simply. Because explaining things simply also helps us clarify our thinking. In the words of one of the most renowned scientists, Albert Einstein, "If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.”

So, throw out the jargon, long sentences, and big words to clarify your thinking, connect with readers, and showcase your knowledge.

And now onto this week's curated round up...

💌 Round-up

🎉 Featured

How to Develop Conscious Communication Skills
If you missed my podcast interview with Alex Howson on Write Medicine, you can now watch our conversation on YouTube. We talk about communication in relationship building, how to cultivate a communications mindset, and tools and practices to develop self-awareness in your work.

👓 Reading

Why Simple is Smart
“Complicated language and jargon offer writers the illusion of sophistication, but jargon can send a signal to some readers that the writer is dense or overcompensating.”

ChatGPT is fun, but not an author
“Machines play an important role, but as tools for the people posing the hypotheses, designing the experiments, and making sense of the results. Ultimately the product must come from—and be expressed by—the wonderful computer in our heads.”

💬 Quote

"The simpler you say it, the more eloquent it is." — August Wilson
 

📝 Challenge

This week, review your writing and substitute short words for long words to simplify the language and signal to readers that you want to connect with them and make their job easier.

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal

Interlude: AI, Integrity, and Thinking

I've been getting a lot of questions about the future of writing and editing with the new AI tools that have become available. I see pros and cons to these tools. So, I thought I'd create a themed edition of this newsletter to share some of what I'm thinking about.

One big thing on my mind is integrity.

The aspect of integrity that many people are thinking about is plagiarism. And rightfully so.

But I think that the integrity also extends to the science itself. For example, an AI tool cannot review a publication and tell you whether you believe that the research had sound methods, a robust analysis, or valid interpretations. You only get that information from analyzing and interpreting the research in the context of your unique knowledge and thinking. And this thinking is what stimulates novel ideas that advance science.

In other words, AI tools can strip away valuable opportunities for you to think critically. And if you strip away your opportunities to think critically, you also strip away your opportunities to think uniquely. And your unique thinking is what you have to offer your field and the world.

And now onto the good stuff...

💌 Round-up

👓 Reading

Tools such as ChatGPT threaten transparent science; here are our ground rules for their use
“…researchers using LLM tools should document this use in the methods or acknowledgements sections. If a paper does not include these sections, the introduction or another appropriate section can be used to document the use of the LLM.”

Why AI won’t replace human editors – and AI agrees
From ChatGPT: "While I can assist with proofreading, editing and generating new content, I lack the human creativity, intuition and critical thinking that are necessary for professional copyediting...Additionally, copyediting is not just about checking grammar and syntax, but it also includes making sure that the text is written with a specific tone, style and audience in mind, which requires a human understanding of the context and the meaning behind the words."

🧰 Tools

GPTZero
Are you concerned that your students will use AI tools for assignments? Check out GPTZero, which will give you a holistic score that indicates how much of a document is written by AI.
 

📝 Challenge

Take a few minutes to think beyond the potential convenience of using AI technology for writing. How might these tools be harmful for advancing your thinking and career?

Thank you so much for reading.

Warmly,

Crystal