- Make people care about your work. This is one of the problems I've always had. I find something of interest and, in many cases, my true reason for writing something is because I found it interesting. But I try to come up with some reason to make it interesting for others.
- Ask "how do you know?" Here she writes about sloppy empirics. Her big thing, of course is her battle of economic significance vs. statistical significance. I was introduced to her piece on this subject in a referee report to the first article I wrote. My original draft was dotted with analyses of statistical* significance, but little on economic significance. A referee pointed this out and directed me to read her JEL article on the subject. AEver since I was McCloskeyed, I have tried my best to tell a story about "how much" in each paper I've written. I think those stories come out in my papers on franchise value, attendance in baseball, and other areas in which I've done research.
- Get to work. Some writers like to write 500 words a day at least. I've tried that and haven't been too successful, mainly because I have too much of a wanderlust. That digital crack pipe McCloskey points to calls me. So does the periodic run around campus or the periodic visit with a colleague. So does that bill I've got to get out today,. For me, my wanderlust gets the best of me,. But I've just got to get my ass in a chair and stay there, for at leat an hour. You should too. that is, if you really want to write.
- Guard your inspiration. Write during your idea times and guard that inspirations. Beg off on that golf game and stay away from the sources. You can hide out there or do a Google search later.
- 5. A good crafstmam uses good tools. "Don't skimp on supplies"
Read the whole thing. It's good advice for you budding writers out there.
Via Craig Newmark
* I fixed the first draft that I posted. I meant to say "statistical", not economic significance first.
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