How to Write a Lot: A Practical Guide to Productive Academic Writing (original 2007; edition 2007)

The most useful parts of this book were about creating a writing schedule so as not to be a "binge" writer. ( )

Every once in a while one reads a book so essential that one cannot help but wish one had read it earlier. Years earlier.
This is such a book.

Paul Silvia demystifies the process of academic writing, and does it very effectively. The central concept of the book can be summarized in four words: "schedule your writing time!" Of course, there's much more than that. Some of the additional material is useful to all academics; some is very specific for psychologists--Silvia's field. I don't fully agree with every single recommendation, but most of them are very useful.
Beware of skimming through the book, as there are some important pieces of advice slightly hidden in the text. For example, after much discussion of the nitty-gritty of Style, Chapter 5 closes by recommending you "write first, edit later"--which could possibly have merited more attention, perhaps by being placed at the beginning of the chapter. Luckily the book is short enough that reading it in its entirety should pose no difficulty whatsoever.

I strongly recommend reading this short and valuable book - and don't forget to schedule your writing time! ( )

Wonderful little book for all academic writers... ( )

My favorite quote so far: "...making a schedule is the secret to productive writing. If you don't plan to make a schedule, gently close this book, clean it so it looks brand new, and give it as a gift to a friend who wants to be a better writer."

This is essentially drivel. The main message of this book is: allocate time, put coffee in mug, sit butt to chair, flap fingers on keyboard. The author makes no qualms about the lack of distinction between writing quantity vs. quality. Given the odds, if there is enough quantity, some of it will get published and over time this will result in having written a lot. If this is all one cares about, then this book will serve its purpose. ( )