Category Archives: Strategy

One of the more effective strategies I have for researching is the “Books I’ve Read” folder in my computer. All of the books and articles I’ve read for my dissertation have their own file. The files themselves are not identical in format. They reflect different strategies I’ve had in researching–summarizing the book, a free-write in response to reading it, or simply a long list of quotations.

Before I started writing my dissertation, I would sometimes wonder if getting all those notes organized into computer files was a waste of time.

I think I did waste some time by taking notes by hand and then re-typing them into the computer. This also resulted in double-guilt when I wasn’t working well: I had to read AND I had to re-type and regurgitate the contents of the book, and if I wasn’t doing both of those things regularly I felt bad about myself. If I had to do it again, I would take notes straight into the computer file and not worry about formatting those notes in any particular way. (If you ever read something and have a rush of ideas afterward, by all means write them down. If a book leaves you cold, though, it’s okay to move on with a minimum of reflection.)

Now, as I’m writing the dissertation, I find my extensive archive of quotes from my research sources incredibly helpful. While writing each of my chapters, I read back over all of the notes in the “Books I Read” file. I am often surprised by the provoking and / or inspiring books I’ve completely forgotten about.

Some of the files are only a few lines long, and some are a dozen pages. But all of them help me to access the ideas that have shaped my project.

A lot of young professionals, myself included, really dislike networking. I think the reason many of us dislike it is because we believe that networking is synonymous with manipulation and scheming.

I just read a magazine article in The Writer by Susan Johnston called “Tips for No-Pain Networking.” The most important point that she made is that networking is about mutual gain. If, while at a conference, you’re cruising the crowd for someone who can advance your career, you’re bound to feel awkward and gross.

Rather than focusing on your own goals when meeting new people, look for ways in which you can help them. Point the way to the bathroom, or offer a bit of gentle feedback on a presentation (“I thought the most interesting thing you said was . . .”). Offer to e-mail someone the name of a book that might be relevant to her project.

Sure, you may secretly hope that your good deeds will be noticed and reciprocated. But you aren’t breaking any networking rules if your interest in other people is genuine.

For creative work, says this month’s issue of Poets and Writers, it’s important to avoid distractions like e-mail.  This is because we actually think better if there is less stuff in our brain.  Billy Collins supports this idea when he claims that boredom is his best inspiration for writing poems.  Since we can’t stare at the ocean every day before working on our dissertations, at the very least we can keep our information gathering contained.  I am personally terrible at this–I probably check my e-mail five or six times a day.  But I only answer e-mails every few days, which means I’ve got stuff in my brain rattling around needlessly.

If e-mail is a treat for you, check it at the end of your work day.  But if you’re like me and open your inbox when you’re bored, it’s probably time to give it a rest.  Boredom could be your ticket to a new insight on your work.