#Supervisors/#Advisors: A few kind words can make a big difference to your research student or post-doc. And it doesn't cost anything. #ECRchat #EMCRForum #PhDchat #PhDforum #postdoc

Writing Genres: First draft: Horror Abstract: Action thriller Hypothesis section: Fantasy Results section: Tragedy Limitations section: True crime Implications section: Satire Grant application: Science fiction

I'm a fiction writer in the grant proposal genre. #ECRchat #postdoc #PhDforum #PhDchat #acwri

Expectations v reality. |Leunig

Dictionary!

The writer's delusion: I don't want to practice. I want to skip ahead to the part where I'm awesome. #phdchat #phdforum #acwri #ECRchat #postdoc #academicchatter | Doug Savage

Cards for researchers. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc @tomgauld

Hell for people who need to have all their books in alphabetical order. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #PhDforum |savagechicken

Hoping Santa brings you a thesis for Christmas? #PhDchat #PhDforum From @PhDcomics

For when you're writing your letter to Santa this year. #upturnedmicroscope

What you asked for in the grant proposal. What you actually received.

Creative uses for old theses? A Christmas thesis-tree. What's happened to yours? #PhDlife #ECRchat #postdoc

For Christmas I want a dragon. Be realistic. OK. I want my paper to be accepted without revisions. What colour do you want your dragon.

This might sound familiar to many grad students. Learning how to avoid bumping into your supervisor.

You've heard of FOMO: the Fear of Missing Out. But have you heard about FOMAR? The Fear of Missing a Reference? Just one more search. One more scan of the literature. What if I miss something? #PhDchat #PhDforum #ECRchat #AcWri

“Books aren’t written – they’re rewritten. Including your own. It is one of the hardest things to accept, especially after the seventh rewrite hasn’t quite done it.” Michael Crichton. Same goes for theses and papers. #PhDforum #EMCRforum #PhDchat #acwri

Secret to writing a bestseller - or a thesis or a paper: You write. You stop dreaming of writing. You stop talking about writing. Stop wishing you were writing. And you write. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc

New #PhD student? The literature is a scary place for the new and unwary. You need a friend and your best friend forever should be your subject librarian. Arrange a meeting. Explain your research area. Be nice and they will help. #PhDchat #PhDforum #ECRchat #AcademicChatter

You have "to write even when you don't want to, don't much like what you're writing, and aren't writing particularly well.” Agatha Christie. If you're a researcher, writing is part of the job. You have to write even if you don't want to. #PhDforum #MRes

The #Ampelmann is the stop sign on pedestrian crossings in Berlin. We all need one for our doors. Do not disturb. #PhDchat #ECRchat #PhDforum #postdoc #AcademicChatter

Therefore or As a result of.. No. Thus.. No. So.. No. Therefore.. Are you going round in circles? Time to move on. Keep writing. Edit later. Just get the words down. You can perfect them later. #acwri #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc #PhDforum

You have to make a mess to make things better. Don’t expect your first draft to be perfect. It will probably be a mess. Then you improve on it. And repeat.

To write well you first have to write badly. Get some words down. However bad you think they are, you now have something to improve on. Review, rewrite and repeat. #acwri #PhDchat #PhDforum #ECRchat

I'm running a writing retreat and encouraging participants to set realistic expectations. It will take x5 or x10 times longer than you expect. You will get half or less words than you expect. And it will take five times more effort than you expect.

I'm running a writing retreat and encouraging the participants to write rubbish. To write well you first have to write badly. Get something down on paper. The first draft won't be very good but then you can improve it. Stop aiming for a perfect first draft. Give yourself permission to write rubbish

I'm facilitating a writing retreat at the moment. It's a good idea to do a word audit at the start and at the end. Then you can see how much you've done during the retreat. Download our free template here: buff.ly/2MW5qvC

Turn off your phone when you are trying to write. Better still, put it in the drawer or another room. We're not good at multi-tasking and writing is not a multi-tasking task. #acwri #phDchat #PhDforum #AcademicChatter #ECRchat

Want to get some writing done? You need to block out time in the diary. Move meetings if you can. Set up an auto-reply on your emails. Put a Do Not Disturb on your door or desk. Tell people you won't be available.

Finding it hard to focus when you're working? Lots of good ideas popping into your head? You need a Good Ideas book. When those good ideas pop into your head - write them in the Good Ideas book and then get back on task. Now you don't have to worry about forgetting that good idea

I'm facilitating a writing retreat @CDUni this week. You need to pack your bags before you set off on a writing retreat. What will you need? Some articles? Previous drafts? Feedback from supervisors/co-authors? No good getting there and realising you haven't got all your bits.

When do you feel like an imposter? When you have to apply for a position, a promotion, a fellowship, anything? You don't feel qualified enough. The other applicants are so much more experienced. Why would they pick you?

When do you feel like an imposter? When you're giving a presentation and the chairperson introduces you by saying "Now we'll hand over to the EXPERT". You're looking around for the expert and they are all looking at you!

When do you feel like an imposter? When you win an award or get a prize? Why did they pick me? The other people seem more qualified or capable. Maybe they made a mistake?

When do you feel like an imposter? When you go to a important meeting and they ask everyone to introduce themselves. They all seem so important. You wonder why you are there.

When do you feel like an imposter? That first lecture you give when you feel you are just one page ahead of the students?

When do you feel like an imposter? Meeting with your supervisor can do it. You want to impress them but they keep asking difficult questions. It can make you feel like you don't know anything. #PhDchat

When do you feel like an imposter? Academic conferences are good for this. Especially when you are new. All those big names. People you've cited. And now you're going to stand up and present to them. Scary!

The imposter voices.

Know your imposter moments: - Your first lecture - A new role - Writing - When you make a mistoke These might make you feel like an imposter but they don't mean you are one. #PhDForum #gradschool

Here are some phrases we use to discount our successes. How do you do it? Instead, when someone gives you a compliment, just say Thank you. No need to discount.

I'll get it you you by the end of the week ... #AndPigsMightFly #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc

I not addicted to technology. I can stop any time I like. #AndPigsMightFly #PhDchat #PhDforum #gradschool

#AndPigsMightFly I'll say No the next time. #PhDchat #ECRchat #postdoc

If you are a giver, remember to learn your limits - because the takers don't have any.

The nice thing about academic is the flexibility. The terrible thing about academia is the flexibility.

The pie chart and the avacado chart. @ErrantScience

Burnout. @lizandmollie

#MentalHealth tip: How about a new series of awards: The person who: Went home on time Didn't check emails at night Stayed at home with a sick child Supported a colleague under pressure Said No to exciting opportunity so could spend more time at home Let's celebrate these people.

#MentalHealth tip: Take a break before you enter the red zone. Rest and recover so you can be more effective in the longer term. @lizandmollie

#Halloween2025 An unfinished thesi_ Scary.