Mastering writing skills is not only a desirable skill, it is absolutely essential, especially for students navigating the complex environments of STEM fields. Being proficient in writing is not just about stringing words together. It is a powerful tool that can shape your career, expand your research impact, and open up countless professional opportunities. From articulating groundbreaking discoveries to securing important funding and building influential connections, the ability to communicate ideas clearly and accurately is essential. Therefore, it is essential for STEM students to understand the importance of writing and develop their own best practices to succeed.
To develop strong writing skills, you need to set clear timelines, actively seek feedback, and utilize available resources. To avoid getting overwhelmed, consider breaking a large writing project into manageable segments and allocating time for research, drafting, revising, and editing. Mabel, one of the co-authors of this article, has experience coaching graduate students on grant writing by creating and effectively distributing timelines for writing assignments. This approach has helped her students manage their writing workload and complete their projects on time. Her students have avoided procrastination and have made steady progress toward their writing goals.
In addition, seeking feedback on your writing from faculty mentors, peers, institutional writing centers, and other professional offices, as well as experts in the field, is essential to improving the quality and effectiveness of your written communication. In her current role directing the research office for medical students, Mabel is able to recognize the specific writing needs of her trainees. Although they are different groups of trainees—medical students, graduate students, and postdoctoral fellows—they are all involved in research, and the same ideas apply. Therefore, preparing statements, abstracts, and manuscripts are common components of the writing skill set that can benefit from institutional support, such as the resources described in this article.
Another co-author, Elizabeth, founded the Writing Studio at the University of Texas Medical School in 2022, mentoring predoctoral and postdoctoral fellows on best practices for writing grants, manuscripts, biographies, theses, and résumés/resumes. She has become a key resource on campus by developing workshops to support fellows and building a recognized brand that students, postdocs, and early career faculty seek out for writing assistance. She currently serves as the Manager of Technical Writing and Publications at MD Anderson Cancer Center, mentoring the next generation of scientists and helping them hone their writing skills in a variety of contexts.
Below we'll briefly look at the different types of writing you and many other students will encounter, and where to find resources to help you develop this fundamental skill.
Available Resources
Resource selection will vary greatly depending on the writing assignment in question. For example, if you are preparing a grant application for federal support such as the National Institutes of Health or the National Science Foundation or another philanthropic fund, early resources may include faculty mentors and peers who have gone through a similar application process. If possible, the writing studio or center at your institution or campus library will likely have staff who can provide editorial feedback and suggestions for improvement. These resources may also be useful for writing abstracts for scientific conference submission. Development offices are also a great resource when pursuing philanthropic grants, as staff can help you frame your research question or proposal to better align with the donor’s interests and contribution plans.
Medical writing projects (e.g., clinical trial protocols, patient information and safety narratives, medical policy documents, and other regulatory documents) require professional guidance and direction. This type of writing typically affects patient care and therefore requires accuracy, clarity, and compliance with regulatory standards. In addition to direct guidance from faculty mentors, resources such as institutional review boards, research administration offices, clinical research offices, and research offices for medical students are good places to get appropriate training and guidance for these professional writing projects.
In addition to the above technical writing examples, a well-written resume or cover letter is essential to landing a great job. As with any type of writing, it is important to know and understand your audience before you begin the writing process.
Academic positions typically require a resume, while industry positions prefer a resume tailored to the specific job. Taking advantage of resources such as career development offices and campus writing centers is usually a great place to start, as they can offer advice, guide you through other job applications, and potentially edit your resume or CV. If there is no specific office on campus, you can always consult with mentors, professors, colleagues, friends, and family members who can provide helpful feedback. It is also a good idea to take advantage of the many online resources that offer guidance on how to get started writing your resume or CV.
Support of artificial intelligence
The integration of AI, as exemplified by ChatGPT, provides a powerful tool for enhancing creativity and expanding vocabulary, especially on platforms like social media and LinkedIn. Of course, all original ideas must come from you, the writer, but AI tools available online today can help you brainstorm and refine those ideas. AI can serve as a valuable assistant in the writing process, providing inspiration, suggesting alternative expressions, and even providing insight into different perspectives.
To reiterate, while AI can suggest a variety of approaches and generate content, it is essential to maintain authorship and authenticity in your work. The responsibility for creating meaningful and original content ultimately lies with you. However, by using AI tools responsibly, you can harness their potential to enhance creativity and productivity while maintaining your unique voice and perspective.
In conclusion, the importance of writing skills in the dynamic environment of academia and beyond cannot be overstated. A well-developed skill set will set you on a path to recognition, innovation, and career advancement. It can be an invaluable asset when pursuing professional achievement. By utilizing the resources available on campus and online and recognizing the importance of this art, you can stand out from the crowd.