Writing Feedback
So Simon has sent you a document full of Tracked Changes.
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So Simon has sent you a document full of Tracked Changes.
Last updated
Was this helpful?
You're probably reading this because Simon has sent you some text that you worked very hard on and he has destroyed it, deleted most of it, re-written the rest, and that feels bad.
Simon knows this feels bad because this is how he learned his scientific writing, his supervisors would do the same and he hated them for it!
Writing good science is like carving a sculpture. The first draft just gives you the rough shape, and subsequent drafts gradually start to look like the finished thing. The general process looks like this:
The hardest bit of scientific writing is getting the first draft on the page. It is basically impossible to get the words on the page and at the same time have the words you've chosen be the best words. You should be proud of your first draft, but don't get too attached to it because as we continue writing it is likely to get re-written a few times.
The first draft is the first time that Simon will have seen the scientific story, the flow from one section to the next, and the words you use to describe your results. So, it is likely that he will re-write a large amount of the document. Expect more red than black after your first revision. Be proud of the words that survive!
Now either accept or reject Simon's Tracked Changes. Don't be afraid to reject Simon's changes. Look at what he has changed but don't worry too much about it.
Make any new changes that you feel are needed now that the document has been through one round of edits. Don't be afraid to re-write things that Simon has written. If any of Simon's edits or wording don't make sense talk to him and he'll explain his thinking. When you're happy send your latest version back to Simon for a second round of edits.
Simon will read the next draft and send back another round of edits, hopefully with a little less red on it than last time; but, don't expect it to be free from major edits. It can take many rounds of edits to get to a place where the version you receive back doesn't have much red. Once you get back a version where there is only a minor amounts of red you will be ready to submit your writing.
All of the above is perfectly normal and even 5+ rounds of edits doesn't mean you're bad at writing. Do try and learn from the things Simon is editing. If you find he is making the same changes frequently, or having to perform the same types of edits then try and incorporate that feedback into your writing next time. This process of collaborative sculpting/writing and learning from what does and doesn't work is how to become a good scientific writer!
Not every lab words this way, so you may talk to friends and find things are different in other groups. Simon's approach is based on what works in his experience. The main reason for this approach is that it acheives high quality writing, and it allows you to learn how to improve your writing. Simon wants you to get as much out of your time in the lab as possible and hopefully this process does help you level-up your scientific writing for whatever you do next.
Am I bad at writing? Simon re-wrote everything so I must not write well :(
No. This is just how to settle on the best wording for everything. When Simon works with collaborators who write perfectly he still does the same thing. He will even go through versions of his own writing deleting and re-writing it multiple times until he's happy. This is just the process that achieves the best writing see: #academic-writing-is-like-carving-a-sculpture.
Simon has made an edit in one version and then reversed the edit in another, what is going on?
Sometimes as the document evolves the correct wording becomes clearer. Sometimes it's good to try certain wording to see if it looks good and then change back if it doesn't work. Sometimes Simon is just indecisive!
How can I avoid having all my words re-written, it sucks.
Sadly, you probably can't. We have found that if you let you first send it to others in the group for edits then Simon is likely to have fewer edits but no promises!
I really disagree with how Simon is writing about something, what should I do?
Don't give up, try and convince him he's wrong! Bring evidence. Show how other people write about something. Bonus points if it's from high impact papers.
