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The Bug Geek
Insects. Doing Science. Other awesome, geeky stuff.
Adventures in manuscript-writing
Posted by on April 2, 2012
I’ve been working on a manuscript on and off for a few months, but diligently for the past few weeks.
I enjoy writing, and usually start these things with a positive outlook (“My research is awesomesauce 😀 <3!”), but things go off-kilter when I start to tackle the introduction, and then all hell breaks lose once I get to the discussion.
Usually by the time I hand it in for review, I hate it and wonder why I ever wanted to write the stupid thing in the first place. (In reality, they’re never actually that bad, but I am very supremely excellent at being my own worst critic.)
I got the dratted draft paper off to my advisor mere moments ago.
And then, probably because I’ve been immersed in the creation (and re-creation… and re-re-creation) of figures for days, I felt compelled to share my manuscript-writing experience in the form of a graph (Fig. 1). Behold:
Fig. 1. Writing a Manuscript, by The Geek In Question
Do any of you go through similar cycles when working on papers? Also. I would be super-entertained if you felt compelled to create your own graph, and share it with me (I’d post it here or share any links!)
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Yay! Easily-entertained grad students with too much time on their hands! 😀
David Winter from The Atavism gives us another take on the manuscript-writing process (Fig. 2).
Fig. 2. Another take on manuscript-writing, by David Winter from The Atavism
Morgan Jackson at Biodiversity in Focus created this to explain what it’s like Doing Taxonomy (Fig. 3):
Fig. 3. Taxonomic Process Graph, by Morgan Jackson at Biodiversity in Focus
These are great! Any more takers? 😀
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Update #2: Yay! Easily-entertained professional research entomologist with too much time on his hands! 😀
Ted MacRae at Beetles in the Bush shows his version of the ups and downs of entomological research (Fig. 4):
Fig. 4. The ups and downs of bug collecting, by Ted MacRae
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Awesome graph!
I’ll definitely have to come up with one of my own – it’ll be different from this for sure.
Yay! I’m going to hold you to this – I can’t wait to see! 😀
As promised, although a slightly different take:
The Ups and Downs of Bug Collecting
Yay! 😀
You forgot databasing…part of the trough no doubt, unless your labeling process includes it? Great graphs by all, btw!
Databasing specimens? Ugh, I leave that to the museums. Not that I don’t think it’s a good idea, but for me the time required for the number of specimens I have just has no real payoff.
Freaking. Awesome! I’m with Ted, I think I’ll have to share my personal take! Very cool new meme Geek!
I enjoy your graph very much. That is all.
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Nice! Don’t forget the crash that happens where you read the reviewers comments on what you had finally convinced yourself was an interesting/well argued/bullet proof addition to the world’s knowledge.
(My graph would have a sort of loop in “I effed up the stats” and “Oh, no wait, I can run this analysis again… what’s another week of my life” )
Oh, those would be good to include. Also, the stage where, years later, you go back and re-read what you wrote and think, “how could anyone have published THIS?” Meh, too depressing to add. The graph’s bad enough already 😛
Because I’ve got never better do do…. My one
LOVE IT. Added 🙂
Good post. And it applies regardless of career stage, and regardless of how many times you go through the process.
Chris, you’re supposed to tell me, “Don’t worry, it gets easier.”
(Boo, hiss).
I just finished working with a team of students on a project for a major science competition. When I catch up on sleep I may have to follow your example and chart our course of progress, non-progress and exhaustion!
Ha! I’d love to see it if you ever make one, Dave!
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