Video: How to Write the First Draft of a Research Paper 

Writing the first draft of a research manuscript can be overwhelming to new researchers. What if there were simple, manageable steps in place? In this video, Dr. Monika Sobocan guides you on how to move from ideas to a complete research paper without getting stuck in the process of perfecting the paper. 

Remember: the first draft is about consolidating data and not correcting mistakes. Here are three simple steps to get you started off: 

• Gather all the data required for your research 
• Create an early draft with tables and figures 
• Write everything down even if it feels messy or incomplete 

DO NOT focus on grammar, spelling, and formatting at this stage of writing. Simply focus on writing in your own scientific voice, like you would speak at a conference, to make your academic writing more natural and easier for your research community to follow.  

Worrying about editing and proofreading at such early stages can slow you down. Always separate writing from editing to stay productive. In fact, once you have your research manuscript ready, let experts and professionals take over the English editing for you so you can have an error-free, journal-ready manuscript for submission.