I focus and write
Creating a mindful scientific life
Does any of this sound like you?
You’re an early career scientist and you…
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need to write your first paper, but nobody has told you HOW! You read papers to learn the craft, and you think “there must be another way of doing this more efficiently”.
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find writing very hard…”why do all my colleagues seem to find it easier? It’s clear, I am simply not a good writer!” (not true, by the way).
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can write very focused for 10 minutes. But then you NEED to check your email, twitter and WhatsApp. 30 minutes later you go back writing, but you need a coffee urgently… “this is not being a very productive day”.
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have written one article (or more!), but despite all your efforts, you got back every draft full of red. Now thinking on that red ink gives you shivers, so you’re delaying to send your draft!
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have written before and you enjoyed it. But now...you simply don’t have time! There are experiments to be done, students to supervise, classes to teach…”How do others find time to write?”.
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If you raised your hand for any of the things listed above, let me tell you something…
You’re not alone!
Doing research, and especially writing, is TOUGH. And yet so many early-career scientists just swallow the struggle and continue writing with the same methods that are not working for them.
You’re in luck because I’ve made something for you. Now let me introduce you to the…
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Mindful Scientific Writing online course
A step-by-step program for early-career scientists that helps you focus and write an experimental paper you feel great about, and have a frustration-free strategy you crave to apply over and over!
I have made this program in a way that when you finish it, you’ll …
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have a draft of your paper, and you’ll be confident and proud of what you have achieved!
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look forward to sitting and writing because you know exactly what actionable steps you need to focus and start & finish ALL your papers.
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make writing a PRIORITY and next time you’re not productive you can identify why, and stop it.
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learn how to respond to your mental struggles and your evolving needs with your new mindful approach to the academic life. This is a unique aspect of this program that you don’t see often in other courses!
Why you’ll love working with me?
Hey, I’m Ana, and…
I am a scientist studying plants, microbes, insects and their ecology, and I am also crazy about the benefits of meditation. I spent years working and writing papers in top institutions, supervising happy students during their writing, and revising and editing scientific papers for several high impact journals.
And I struggled, A LOT. But I also learned from it (ok, and from some courses too), and I want that you realize that the struggles are normal and part of the process. And that you can win from those struggles and keep writing until you have a paper that you’re proud of.
My entire life I have been fascinated about PEOPLE around me. Including my colleagues, scientists I had a chat in a conference or those whose papers I reviewed. And I always thought what makes them or their work unique? What are their strengths as a person or in the papers they write? And for those I felt closer in my heart: What are their struggles and how can I help them? And I have poured the best of everything I know about writing as a scientist over the past 15 years and about mindfulness as a yoga teacher more recently, into this course.
Ready to get started?
This is not just a course, it is a 4-week program where you will make the time and have the accountability to write your experimental paper (if you have data for it!). If you don’t have your data yet, don´t worry, you can still write a big part of your manuscript.
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The end result: an awesome manuscript that you will be proud of and a system, crafted to your needs, to write all your papers with confidence and focus.
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Here’s how it all breaks down:
Content
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The course is structured as 4 modules that you will access online gradually (one module per week). Each module includes several short video tutorials of around 1 h per week. Then you will need to do the work for about 4 h per week, but… if you want to finish your paper during the 4 weeks that the course runs, you will need about 30 hours extra per week (so full time!). On top of the pdfs of the video tutorials, you’ll also receive workbooks, planners, audios and extra resources.
Feedback & accountability
A unique aspect of this program compared with other online courses is the feedback. We will meet 4 times online in a group call to answer any questions that you have along the way. If you cannot attend the live calls, you can send me your questions in advance and you can watch later the replay videos. And when some urgent question pops up, you can always send me an email and I’ll try to answer ASAP. Last but not least, as long as it is active and constructive, we will also have a private Facebook group with all the students where you can share thoughts, ideas, or ask for feedback.
If you’re worried you can’t keep up with the 4-week schedule...No worries!
Once you join Mindful Scientific Writing, you get lifetime access to all of the course materials – which means you can go at your own pace, or take a break and come back to it when you’re ready.
Module 1
Introduction
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Creating the right environment and mindset to start writing
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The importance of the last paragraph
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Fundaments and mind traps of writing style
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On finding inspiration
Module 2
Methods
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Time management and productivity
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A marketing approach to writing your title and abstract
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The end of procrastination
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Writing a project proposal before doing any experiment
Module 3
Results
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Open data and publication
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Scientific integrity
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Designing impactful visual materials
Module 4
Discussion
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Edit and revise your full manuscript
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Design a customized writing plan for the future
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Dealing with impostor syndrome and other mind blocks
And don’t miss out on these bonuses:
Revision of key parts
I will review key parts of the manuscript where, as an editor and reviewer, I often see scientists making mistakes. Those are: title, abstract, first and last paragraph of the introduction and the discussion, figures and legends, and specific details about statistics in the methods and results.
Meditations
​Meditation is probably the simplest thing you can do to take care of your mental strength while boosting your focus and creativity. You will have 5 guided meditations to help you overcome the most common struggles scientists suffer: fear of failure, impostor syndrome, lack of inspiration, uncertainty about the future, and creativity. You can also use these meditations whenever you need a mental break during your writing day... and don’t worry, you don’t need to have meditated before!
Yoga
​As part of the mindful aspect of the course, moving your body is crucial as a self-care act. Yoga can provide you with unique benefits, especially after working a full day in front of a computer. I have designed for you several classes for all levels including 5 office yoga classes of less than 15 min to do behind your desk, one slow-flow class to start the day with movement, or a more relaxing class to end up the day and reset your mind.
Revision of key parts
I will review key parts of the manuscript where, as an editor and reviewer, I often see scientists making mistakes. Those are: title, abstract, first and last paragraph of the introduction and the discussion, figures and legends, and specific details about statistics in the methods and results.
Meditations
​Meditation is probably the simplest thing you can do to take care of your mental strength while boosting your focus and creativity. You will have 5 guided meditations to help you overcome the most common struggles scientists suffer: fear of failure, impostor syndrome, lack of inspiration, uncertainty about the future, and creativity. You can also use these meditations whenever you need a mental break during your writing day... and don’t worry, you don’t need to have meditated before!
Yoga
​As part of the mindful aspect of the course, moving your body is crucial as a self-care act. Yoga can provide you with unique benefits, especially after working a full day in front of a computer. I have designed for you several classes for all levels including 5 office yoga classes of less than 15 min to do behind your desk, one slow-flow class to start the day with movement, or a more relaxing class to end up the day and reset your mind.
Demystifying the publishing process
In this bonus masterclass, you’ll have an insider view of the publishing process from submitting your article, handling reviewers' comments, to having it accepted and beyond. I’ll share the common mistakes I often see, so you won’t make those mistakes that often delay the publication process. And you’ll have a template of a cover, rebuttal and appeal letter!
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Extra bonus only for early-bird purchases!!!
Gabriel Souba, PhD candidate
@JacquesMcPollo
This course changed my life. To future students: this is an amazing program to channel all your insight potential into scientific writing. It will guide you through steps on how to focus and make the most of your research when preparing a paper, even if you think you already know how to do it.
Sandra Martínez, PhD candidate
This course brings an innovative perspective to do and publish science. These strategies also helped me with the common challenges of writing a paper as a Ph.D. candidate. I’d do this course again because I see that depending on the professional and personal moment you’re in, you can always learn new things. And working with Ana is pleasure…she is professional and at the same time spreads very personal energy!
Jose Marmaneu, PhD candidate
@JoseMarmaneu
There is a general idea that Ph.D. candidates know how to write an article, but nobody teaches us to write and we infer it from reading other papers. But reading and writing are completely different things. What I found most useful from this course was learning how to structure my article, and to improve the clarity and precision of what I wrote. Although it may sound strange, it also showed me that there are many ways of writing and that even in scientific writing we can be creative and innovative. I recommend it 100%!
Or keep reading if still doubting…
Mindful Scientific Writing is for you if you want to write an experimental paper that you’re happy with and have a system to do it over and over. You’re gonna love this course if…
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you struggle with different aspects of being a scientist, and you wish you knew how to manage it.
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you’re done wasting time trying tips you found on random websites, feeling overwhelmed, and not sure if you’re doing things right. You want a system that works!
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you have results to write a paper, or even if you’re doing the experiments right now. Some of my past students benefited from the course even before they did any experiment.
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you’re interested in how mindfulness and meditation can benefit your productivity, but you don’t know where to begin.
But to be honest, this course is probably not for you if you’re searching for a course with a strong component on:
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Theory of scientific writing. This is a course where I give a bit of theory, and a lot on how to implement it, so you can immediately go and write your paper.
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Technical aspects of scientific writing, such as how to avoid the passive form or the use of phrasal verbs. Although in this course we will look at some technical aspects of writing, the focus is more on what goes in where, common mistakes and how to avoid them, and behavioral aspects of scientific writing.
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English language. The course is taught in English, but it does not include lessons on learning or improving the language. If you feel that’s your main struggle, I think there better courses for you.
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REFUND POLICY​
Due to the limited spots in the course, I cannot offer a refund. If after reading the information about the course you are doubting whether joining or not, please send me an email explaining your situation. I’ll do my best to help you make a decision!
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Are you still not sure if this is for you?
Send me an email at ifocusandwrite@gmail.com explaining your situation and doubts and I’ll get back to you ASAP!
FAQ
I AM A POSTDOC AND HAVE WRITTEN SOME ARTICLE ALREADY. IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR ME?
If you came all this way, I think it is! I did several “soft skill” courses myself as a postdoc, and I always learned something useful. Probably I’ll tell you some things you already know, but others will be new to you! Plus, an important aspect is also the accountability you’ll get (often not so much as postdoc).
DO YOU OFFER ANY REFUNDS OR GUARANTEES?
No. Due to the limited spots in the course, I cannot offer a refund. If you are doubting whether joining or not, please send me an email explaining your situation. I’ll do my best to help you make a decision!
WILL YOU REVISE THE FULL MANUSCRIPT?
No, because depending on your field and topic, I may not have the right scientific expertise. I will review key parts of the manuscript where, as an editor and reviewer I often see scientists making mistakes. Those are: title, abstract, first and last paragraph of the introduction and discussion, figures and legends, and specific details about statistics in the methods and results. This is however NOT a full editorial revision where your complete manuscript is reviewed and corrected.
WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY?
Everything will be as confidential as you want it to be. You can let me know if you don’t want me to discuss your questions in the group calls, and it’s totally up to you whether attending those calls, joining the Facebook group, and matching with an accountability partner.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE ACCESS TO THIS COURSE?
You have online lifetime access to the videos, and you can download the other materials (slide decks, workbooks, audios, etc.).
CAN I SHARE THE CONTENT WITH A COLLEAGUE?
Nope. You will receive a personal login to access the course and it is forbidden to share it. But you can (and I’d love it!) recommend it to your colleagues!
COULD I JUST FIND THIS INFORMATION FOR FREE ONLINE?
Sure, most of this information is online. But the problem is that there is too much information, from all kinds of sources (many not reliable), and scattered. Here I have done the work at curating that information, combining it with my unique expertise (you also have one by the way) after years of supervision and editorial work, and setting it up in a step-by-step process.
THIS COURSE WOULD BE A BIG INVESTMENT FOR ME. IS IT REALLY WORTH THE PRICE?
Absolutely. Most early-career scientists end up suffering a delay in defending their Ph.D. thesis or even finding the next job. And issues with writing and time management are often at the core of that delay. If this course helps you to avoid even a one-month delay (and it will help you with that and far more), the investment is fully worthy. Now, just do the math.
CAN I GET THIS COURSE FUNDED BY MY INSTITUTION?
You’ll need to check this with your supervisor (plus probably some sort approval to take a course during your working hours). In my experience, you may get a full or partial funding for this type of courses, but that's out of my control ;)
Do you have a question that is not answered here? Or would you like to discuss you situation? Just drop me an email at ifocusandwrite@gmail.com!
Disclaimer
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Just by purchasing this program, your manuscript won’t materialize out of thin air. You’ll have to actually do the work. Your results may vary depending on your writing skills, the time you spend on the course, and the complexity of your work.