After almost two weeks, three of us have finished writing a paper for the computer journal. The procedure is tough. We continue producing ideas, changing ideas, and writing. The most terrible time is that I do not have any new idea and I cannot explain things clearly. In the former case, I was very stressed; In the latter case, I was very frustrated. Anyway, that moment has passed, and I want to record e some experience for writing a paper.
- Writing helps thinking: when you have a rough idea, you should write it down immediately. The important thing is you should go back to read it times by times. Definitely many words or sentences do not make sense. Try to make the idea clear, and see how it works step by step. When it goes well, and go to the contrary: question each step. Is this step is wrong? Is there any other situations that are ignored? Is each step consistent? Especially, when you use mathematical definitions, you should make it concise and precise. It’s very hard, but what can be done is to check it for many times.
- If the idea is fine, how to make it clear? It is impossible to write down the things clearly if they are not clear in your mind. When you know what you exactly want to express, try: (1) begin with introduction; (2) explain logically; (3) end with a summary.
- Always state the most important thing first.
- How to review a paper after finishing it: does each sentence make sense? How are sentences related to each other?
- Don’t create fancy word. If the word is not typical, defend why it is used.
- Make text consistent: bold, italic, and quotes.
I have another problem — poor English. I have a bad habit that I make sentence too long. I organise sentences in a strange structure, and use unnatural words. I should remind of myself all the time.
