Writing and Research Tips
NaNoWriMo and Academic Writing
5th November 2021
NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, started in 1999 as a challenge to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days in November.
Benefits of Dissertation Coaching
6th October 2020
Writing a dissertation or thesis can be challenging. It takes a long time from start to finish, and for many people, is unlike anything they’ve ever done before.Benefits of Joining a Virtual Writing Group
18th August 2020
Writing groups have always been helpful, and, especially in graduate school, they’re often done in-person.It's Summer! Here's How to Stay Motivated
16th July 2020
It’s summertime, and while our summer this year looks different than in years past because of the COVID-19 pandemic, hopefully you’ll still be able to get outside in the sunshine, relax a bit, and recharge for the coming year.Ways to Improve Your Written English
23rd June 2020
English is a difficult language. Here at Dissertation Editor, we have years of experience working with clients for whom English is not their first language.Staying Organized Working from Home During COVID-19
9th June 2020
Many – if not most – people are working from home right now. For those who aren’t used to it, this can be a rude awakening and a rough transition, especially if you have a partner or children.The Benefits of Joining a Book Club
4th June 2020
Book clubs can be a fun, engaging, and educational experience at any time, but especially now during the COVID-19 stay-in-place orders, they can be especially helpful.Helpful Websites for Writers
2nd June 2020
Whether you’re writing your thesis or dissertation, a journal article, or a novel or memoir, sometimes you need…something else.How Do You Know if You Have the Right Dissertation/Thesis Topic?
31st March 2020
Many people spend a lot of time wondering how to choose a thesis or dissertation topic, but how do you know when you have the right one? Well, it can be different for everyone, including how you define “the right topic,” but there are a few ways to know you’ve picked a good topic.Working from Home with Kids During COVID-19
23rd March 2020
Working from home can be challenging enough if you’re not used to it, whether it’s for your job or working on your dissertation or thesis.Dealing With Feedback
10th March 2020
This blog post might be hard for some of you to read. Good. That’s a good thing – we all need to push our comfort zones and be uncomfortable from time to time.Academic New Year's Resolutions for 2019
2nd January 2020
It’s a new year! It’s that time when people make resolutions…and often break them. We did a post like this last year, which you can read here.Academic Writing Tips: How to Declutter Your Writing
17th September 2019
It’s important to get words down on the page. Without it, you don’t have a thesis or dissertation.Writing 1000 Words a Day (or 750, or 500...)
10th September 2019
Did our blog headline get your attention? Great! We thought it would. Too good to be true, you might be asking? Nope.How Close Reading Can Help Your Academic Writing
5th September 2019
In the book Reading Like a Writer, Francine Prose examines the link between reading and writing, and how reading informs writing, and vice versa.Want to Combat Stress or Burnout? Get Outside!
27th August 2019
As graduate school looms in the not-so-distant future, you might be a little anxious about starting or going back to your graduate program or stressed out about your dissertation or thesis.Podcasts for Writing
13th August 2019
Are you a podcast-listener? We’ve talked about podcasts for graduate students before, but as you know, whatever you’re interested in, there’s a podcast for that! Here are some that may be helpful in writing your dissertation – and writing in general, too.Summer Reading: Books and Workbooks on Academic Writing
9th July 2019
Summer is a great time to work on any challenges you might have with writing, especially academic writing.The Importance of Fact-Checking and Understanding Your Research
27th June 2019
Recently, the author Naomi Wolf learned – on-air, no less – that a major premise of her book is based on a misunderstanding.Setting Reasonable and Attainable Goals in Dissertation Writing
16th April 2019
The dissertation writing process is a long one – the dissertation process itself is more like an Ironman triathlon than a quick sprint.Thoughtful Thursday: Books About Science that Everyone Should Read
3rd January 2019
It’s the tail end of winter break for many of you, and hopefully you've been able to take at least some time off from writing and research and enjoy some free time, get some sleep, get outside and play in the snow, or do some “pleasure reading.
The Benefits of Journaling in Graduate School
26th December 2018
When was the last time you journaled? For many of us, it was as angsty teens, or kids who kept a diary.Dissertation Writing Tips: Getting out of ABD Status
18th December 2018
You’ve probably seen people sign their emails “So-and-so, PhD, ABD.” Don’t do that. You are either a PhD candidate or a PhD, not a “PhD ABD.Dissertation Writing Tips: Helpful Writing Software
27th November 2018
We know that the best advice to get started with writing is just to write. But there are definitely tools that help make the process less arduous (see our favorite books about writing here).Organizing Your Dissertation: A Reverse Outline
8th November 2018
You’re probably familiar with using an outline to help plan your thesis or dissertation, but what about a reverse outline? A reverse outline is usually used to check your work.How to Utilize National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), Even for Your Dissertation!
1st November 2018
It’s November, and it’s National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). Although it was developed for people writing novels, many people use it to write nonfiction.How to Beat Writer's Block
25th September 2018
Ah, the dreaded writer’s block. It happens to all of us at some point. Whether you’re working on a book, a paper, your dissertation, or a work project, sometimes you just get stuck.Dissertation Writing Tips: Writing Transitions
18th September 2018
Many clients come to Dissertation Editor with notes from the professor that say “choppy,” or they’re told that their ideas need to flow better.Dissertation Writing Tips: How to Paraphrase
6th September 2018
Avoiding plagiarism is a central focus when you’re writing your dissertation, and part of that involves paraphrasing the research you read.Common Writing Mistakes by Non-Native English Speakers
9th August 2018
We’ve worked with hundreds of clients for whom English isn’t their first language, and we know how confusing English can be, even for native speakers.Dissertation Writing Tips: Tightening up Your Academic Writing
31st July 2018
When editors write things like “tighten this up!” or talk about “tightening up” during a consultation, they’re not referring to physical fitness! Tightening up a piece of writing, whether it’s academic or creative, means cutting the excess, streamlining the ideas, and getting to the point.How to Increase Your Productivity
24th July 2018
We’ve all heard people talking about being morning people or night owls – and with that, comes varying differences in productive times for different people.Thoughtful Thursday: The Benefits of Music
19th July 2018
Anyone who’s ever exercised or runs knows that music can be a big motivator. A long run can feel a lot shorter when you have the right music playing on your headphones, and even a night out dancing can fly by if there’s a great soundtrack.Finding and Maintaining your Motivation during the Dissertation Process
5th July 2018
Most people writing a dissertation have heard the comparisons to a “marathon, not a sprint.” While that’s not wrong, sometimes that’s not entirely helpful, either.
Dissertation Writing: Commonly Misused Words
3rd July 2018
Writing well is hard, no doubt about it. English can be confusing, especially if it's not your first language.Motivational Quotes to Help Fuel your Writing
19th June 2018
There’s no doubt about it, writing can be hard. Often we just need a little extra motivation to jump start our creativity or give us a push to help get us over the latest hurdle.
Formatting Friday: Vancouver
15th June 2018
The Vancouver system, commonly referred to as simply Vancouver, is formally known as the Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals, or the ICMJE Recommendations.Tips for Summertime Dissertation Motivation
29th May 2018
The summer is (finally) sneaking up on us – barbeques, longer days full of sunshine and swimming and relaxing, and plans with family and friends.Plagiarism: What it Is, and How to Avoid It
15th May 2018
One of the most common inquiries we get from graduate students is whether we can check for plagiarism; another common type of email is that of a student wanting us to go over the TurnItIn report and “fix” the plagiarism that was found.Thoughtful Thursday: Anxiety about Writing
3rd May 2018
Anxiety during graduate school is normal, and a small amount of anxiety can actually be healthy. However, if it starts interfering with work, daily routine, or mood, it can be a sign of a problem.Writing Your Dissertation: Finding the Gap
16th April 2018
You have your topic, your research questions (or at least a general idea of what they might be), and now you’re faced with a literature review.Formatting Friday #1: The Importance of Proper Formatting
16th March 2018
Welcome to our new blog series, Formatting Friday! Every Friday, we’ll be looking at a topic in formatting.National Proofreading Day!
8th March 2018
March 8th. Yes, it’s International Women’s Day, but for the editorial-minded, it’s also National Proofreading Day! Between this and National Grammar Day just a few days ago, who knew editors were such party animals? We get a lot of emails from clients who use the terms “proofreading” and “editing” interchangeably, but the two are actually very different.Happy National Grammar Day!
4th March 2018
https://youtu.be/RPoBE-E8VOc Quick, what day of the year is also a complete sentence? Why, March 4th, of course! (March forth!) It’s also National Grammar Day.Conferences, Part 1: Presenting Your Dissertation Research at a Graduate Conference
28th February 2018
When you're writing your dissertation, it's often the only thing on which you have time to focus. Attending academic conferences and presenting papers or posters may seem like nothing more than a distraction from your dissertation writing, editing, and formatting.Dissertation Help: Should You Write a Digital Dissertation?
6th December 2015
The internet has opened up new possibilities for writers: we can interact with readers, combine audio and visual media with written text, and easily share work with audiences around the world.Dissertation Writing Help: How Do You Write a Methodology Chapter?
23rd November 2015
What is Methodology? The word methodology refers to the techniques, practices, and procedures that a researcher uses when conducting research.Choosing the Right Dissertation Advisor
23rd July 2015
Your relationship with your dissertation advisor can make or break your grad school experience. The right advisor can mentor you throughout graduate school and beyond, but the wrong advisor can hamper your progress and hold you back.Dissertation Research Help: Scholarly Sources
8th May 2015
When you are researching your dissertation, you will need to make extensive use of scholarly sources.Summertime Dissertation Writing: How to Stay On Task When the Sunshine Beckons
1st April 2015
Summer! The sun is out, the beach is beautiful, and it's time to relax, right? Well, for those who have dissertations to write, summer is perhaps less a chance to kick back, and more of a chance to get some serious work done in the absence of the regularly scheduled demands of the academic year.What is a Dissertation Committee Supposed to Do, Anyhow?
20th March 2015
Your dissertation committee is a team of professors who are meant to provide expertise, guidance, mentorship, and dissertation help.Dissertation Formatting Tips: Citing Digital Sources
12th March 2015
Dissertation formatting can be challenging enough as it is – there are so many meticulous details to pay attention to, and it's crucial to adhere to the formatting and citation style prescribed by your institution or department.Avoiding Digital Distraction while Writing Your Dissertation
5th March 2015
It happens all too easily. One moment you're staring at your dissertation on your computer screen, trying to work through a tough sentence or idea.Running an Effective Dissertation Writing Group
3rd March 2015
Forming a writing group is a great way to combat the feelings of isolation that can come with dissertation writing.Helpful Dissertation-Writing Blogs
15th October 2014
Writing a dissertation can be a long, lonely, difficult process. Dissertation writing is filled with highs and lows, exciting and dull stretches, moments of elation and despair.Finishing Your Dissertation
26th September 2014
The Challenges of Dissertation Writing Dissertations are huge projects. They are often the biggest, most extensive undertaking that a graduate student has been tasked with completing up to that point of his or her academic career.How to Write a Dissertation in Scholarly Tone
10th September 2014
In any written, academic undertaking, scholarly tone is of utmost importance. Tone, rigor, sources, and precision are some of the clear indicators that distinguish scholarly from popular writing.How Long Is the Average Dissertation?
4th September 2014
If you're visiting Dissertation-Editor.com, chances are that you’re beginning, working on, or finishing your dissertation.
Dissertation Isolation Syndrome
21st August 2014
The process of writing a dissertation or thesis can be incredibly isolating. You seclude yourself for days on end with nothing but books, pages on a computer screen, and your own thoughts.