Writing is thinking

• Helps you think through logical holes.
• Helps you make the idea concrete.
• Ensures that your paper will make sense before you invest any unnecessary time.

Typical flow

• Come up with idea
• Implement idea
• Evaluate idea
• Write paper

Better flow

• Come up with idea
• Write (motivation / method)
• Implement idea
• Write (system design)
• Evaluate idea
• Write (results)

Ideation is a muscle!

You can strengthen it through training (practicing) and nourishment (reading).

Ideation is a muscle!

BUT, it can also weaken if you do not train or nourish it.

Keep an idea journal

Every day, pick a topic that interests you.

Come up with at least 5 ideas (#nofilter).

At the end of the month, review those ideas.

Use mind-maps

Helps you organize your ideas visually.

Very easy to regain the "context" of an idea.

Time management

3

Research is time consuming

Research never ends

Answers only beget more questions.

Ends for beginnings

• Keep a list of everything you need to do.
• Dedicate the end of each work day to determine 3 things you should do the next day.

Effort-based goals

• Make success a matter of how much effort you put in, not the result of the effort.
• e.g., write for 2 hours, not write 2000 words.

Say no

• Even to your adviser. Your adviser wants you to be productive, not to spread your attention too thin.

Don't take it personally

It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Focus on process, not outcomes.

Embrace, don't fear.

Bonus: Strike a chord!

6

Hate is as good as love.

It means people care about what you've done.

Do unforgettable work.