Hallelujah, after about 2 years of work I published my first research article. You can enjoy it here https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevC.98.044307.
In the process of writing the article I learned a lot, e.g. from my colleagues and by reading articles in my field of research. Simultaneously to the writing, I took the course Academic Writing at Lund University. This combined environment really set off the development of my writing skills. I would here like to share with you some of the things I am taking with me.
One example is the model CARS – Creating A Research Space. The model consists of three so called moves which can serve as a guide in writing the introduction to a research paper. You can read about the moves in the link above. Besides facilitating the writing of the introduction, the model can in a more general sense help defining a research project. I found it really useful.
As fiction, scientific articles is a type of writing genre. This became clearer and clearer over time. For instance, I learned that a certain language is used (this might seem obvious), the use of tense can have large effect on what is meant and writing in an active or a passive voice has its purpose.
Lastly, I came across some links that can be helpful in the writing process:
- General advice on academic writing: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
- Academic phrase-bank – when you are in need of some inspiration: http://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/