"How to write a technical paper"

Some people can churn out papers with no effort at all, but for some writers the process is more painful than pulling out fingernails. And there is another interesting correlation: papers that are written swiftly are much more readable. How come these large differences?

Some people enjoy writing more than others, and alas, some may have more talent. However, writing is learnable, and it’s a useful skill to have. When you follow a process, and apply some discipline, everybody can learn to write effective papers.

In particular for technical subjects, it helps to write well because the distance you need to bridge to reach less astute readers provides an additional challenge. Try to find examples or metaphors that people can relate to when your topic is obscure for the majority of your readership.

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