Many of you are here to network but we don’t often know who is doing what - let’s change this: In a few words, please explain what is your core research area. Enjoy!

I spent 13 months writing my first research paper. And guess what? It was painful. I told myself: "I hate writing." "I'm not good enough." "I just need to get this done." I was making massive mistakes that were killing my productivity and leading to rejections. Here are the 5 biggest mistakes I made (and how to fix them): 1. I tried to write the Introduction first. I thought I had to write linearly. Start at the top, finish at the bottom. The Fix: Flip the script. Write your Methods first. Then Results. Then Discussion. Write the Introduction last—once you actually know what story your data tells. 2. I tried to be a "Perfectionist" during the draft. I would write a sentence. Delete it. Fix the grammar. Rewrite it. I was thinking and writing at the same time. The Fix: Separate the two. Draft as quickly as possible. Don't worry about English or grammar. Just get the ideas down. Remember: Done is better than perfect. You can edit later. 3. I wrote without a plan. I used to write 40-page drafts because I had no plan. I included everything I thought was relevant. The Fix: The Perfect Outline. Spend 1-2 days just on the outline. Define your key messages and flow before you write a single paragraph. Outlines prevent waffling. Less is more. 4. I used "Fancy Words" to sound smart. I thought complex language made me look like an expert. The Fix: Plain language. Your goal is to make learning easy for the reader. If you use words like "desirous" just to sound academic, you are hurting your impact. 5. I ignored the "Novelty" trap. I thought new data was enough. The Fix: Verify your novelty early. 70% of desk rejections happen because of a lack of novelty. If you have an "Old Solution" to an "Old Problem," you will get rejected.Frame your work as a New Solution + Old Problem, or an Old Solution + New Problem. Writing doesn't have to be a struggle. You just need the right framework. Which of these mistakes are you making right now? P.S. If you are stuck staring at a blank screen, ask yourself: "Why does this research matter to others?". It changes everything.

Wishing you all the best for the 2026! Hope your goals and aspirations will come true. I am truly grateful for your contributions to this community. Learning together and sharing expertise is the best way to grow as a person. Thank you - I’ve already learnt a lot from you. Looking forward to 2026 - let’s make it great!

Our community has grown to 365 members! I wanted to welcome each and every one of you. If you joined recently, share your research area, what are you working on, and if you’re open to collaborating on papers/projects. A few notes below: 1. We’re running Paper Writing Workshop on the 9th January - head to calendar and save the date to your personal calendar. 2. We’re putting together a full training programme for the next year - let me know what sessions would help you over the next 12 months. No ask is too big or too small. 3. We’re on the lookout for guest speakers - if you’d like to share your research, teach your research methods, or academic career advice with others, please send me a message. Looking forward to hearing from you all!

For many, this is the last working week of the year. What are you up to? Do you take a break? Are you busy finalising papers or proposals? Or will you continue working until the end of December?