Academic Writing Habits

Found a great idea over here and decided to create a list of useful exercises for those who have to deal with academic writing every day. I mean, most writers who write non-fiction or fiction can allow themselves to rely on inspiration. We, academic writers, cannot. So, how can one get used to daily academic writing?

Tip #1: pick yourself a set of short assignments for a week and get them done. Don’t start with writing course works or thesis papers: you will get bored. Small essays on different topics are exactly what you need. You won’t get tired, because there will be no need to accomplish a tremendous research, and you won’t get bored, because it won’t be necessary to concentrate on the same topic for a long time. Such practice could also be entertaining, if you choose a set of topics you are interested in.

Tip #2: learn to think in a proper way. The easiest way to do it is… to visit a library. So, all you need to do is to come to the library and to choose any scientific field you wish. Go to the section where you can find information on the chosen subject. Pick any book, the cover or the name of which looks interesting to you. Look it through – you don’t have to read it, just take a look in order to realize what topics are described there. Then just pick any topic you like, sit down and try to make a plan for different types of essays on this topic – a plan for an argumentative essay, a research paper or a thesis paper. This exercise will help you cope with academic writing in different scientific fields. It will also allow you to learn the difference between different essay types.

Tip #3: make a list of your most and least favorite topics. Define the directions and topics you would love to explore. If you want to get used to daily academic writing, forget about uninteresting themes at least for a month. Work with the matter you like. It will make your process of adaptation to academic writing easier.

How to Get Good Essay Orders

When you are just a beginner and have no particular client base, the easiest way to get orders and money is to find a custom writing service and work there. However, even clients of a custom writing service prefer authors with experience to newbies, and because of that a beginner rarely gets a decent order. You either get to write a difficult assignment for a low price, or a small and insignificant text for a low price. Both ways you don’t get the credit and the payment you deserve.

However, I know several tips that might help you attract a good customer.

First, don’t forget to provide work samples. Yes, I know you haven’t got a single order so far – so what? Just write an essay on any topic you wish. There is no need to make it long – 350-600 words will be enough. The essay sample is necessary, because in most cases this is the only way a customer might find out about your skills and writing style (by looking at your previous work).

Second, at the beginning of your career always put an average price for your services. You should never use dumping as your pricing policy – not because it is unfair, but because it will hurt your interests more than it will hurt your competitors. Customers have a good memory – if they remember that you evaluated your own work cheap, they won’t be much willing to give you more money in future.

Third, try to be relatively creative when offering your services. Make sure there is something in your account, appearance and messages that differs you from other writers – and by “something” I don’t mean the lack of experience. Think of a special detail that will help people remember you. Just don’t get carried away – customers usually get scared off by extremely creative authors. After all, you work in the field of academic writing, not in a clown academy.

Watch Your Style

Every academic writer tries to develop his own writing style. It doesn’t mean one has to be all creative and easily recognizable by the way he writes – in fact, academic writer should stay neutral for the sake of his customers; client’s tutor might notice that the assignment you wrote differs from what your customer usually submits. However, you should improve your academic writing style and practice alone won’t save you. There are some rules you need to follow in the everyday life in order to make sure you won’t lose the professional touch.

Avoid Profanity and Slang

And when I say “profanity and slang”, I don’t mean you should get rid of every single swearing word in your vocabulary. It will be enough if you stop using parasite words like “duh” or the f-word. You see, parasite words tend to replace dozens of other words and it is really comfortable – no need to think of an inventive synonym to express your thought, you’ve got a simple word right on your tongue. Some lousy teenagers might allow themselves such luxury, you – academic writer – might not. Your task is to expand your vocabulary, not to shorten it.

Don’t Read Bad-Quality Stuff

We all know that every academic writer should read classic literature and scientific papers to improve his taste. What some people forget is that there is also bad-quality writing and authors, who wish to keep their style clean and clear, should avoid reading such things. If you don’t want to get under the bad influence, stay away from fanfiction and yellow press. Most works from these sources are written in a very bad manner, besides, there are many grammar errors in such “masterpieces” as well.

Create Templates

An essay template, created by yourself, would make your work on the writing style much easier - especially if you give preference to a specific essay type, for example, to a descriptive, argumentative or persuasive essay. A qualitative template would allow you to put new content into a fixed form that consists of definite structures and expressions – and with every new order you could improve the form (and style) and make it more perfect.

Remember – clear writing style makes a lion’s share of a success in the career of academic writer.