Many good questions are asked in writing consultations. To the question "How do I create a realistic study or writing plan for myself?" Robert, a trained writing peer tutor since 2018, gives a first answer:

A writing or study plan can accomplish many things. If you approach it well, you create commitment to work for yourself. In addition, it relieves the burden, which arises from the fact that the tasks to be tackled are already formulated and it is also determined when it is their turn. Once you have written this down, capacities are freed up that were occupied up to this point with worrying about not forgetting anything.

But I create schedules primarily because they give me a clear visualization of the next few weeks. Days that are still floating around far away in my imagination become tangible on paper and offer themselves to be shaped. They take on a reality that they didn't yet have in my head. I can't imagine the work process of longer-term tasks, such as writing projects, any other way than on paper.

How to do this practically? Simply open a writing program and create the month as a table, so that each day has a box (like a calendar). First, cross out all the days that you definitely can't spend time on your writing project. For all other days, think about how much time you could spare on that day. Now you have an imaginable time allotment that can be planned.

Now it is time to distribute your tasks. Ideally, you know your daily performance curve so that you can schedule difficult tasks for times when you are more focused. It is also helpful if you can estimate how much time you need for a task. What will go quickly for you? What will take more time and effort? But even if you don't really know about it yet: one more reason to create a schedule. In addition to all the advantages that a schedule brings, it is also great for self-reflection, because you can directly verify or adjust preliminary estimates.

Would you like to discuss your schedule, get more help with time management or how to figure out your daily performance curve? Then just come to our writing consultation! For more information, visit our Writing Consultation website.

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Robert Bosse

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Writing Center of TU Dresden

Writing Center of TU Dresden

This post appeared on the occasion of Writing Center Newsletter in February 2022. This and other newsletter issues are linked in the Writing Center Newsletter Archive.

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Writing Center of TU Dresden

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TUD Dresden University of Technology Zentrum für Weiterbildung/Career Service
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​The Writing Center of the TU Dresden (SZD) supports students and lecturers with offers for planning and writing various texts in studies such as vouchers, protocols, seminar papers and theses and for teaching academic writing in teaching and supervision. All information about offers and possibilities of support can be found in the areas for students and lecturers.

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