Writing. October 3, 2006

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Lee Heath
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1 Writing October 3, 2006

2 Outline

3 Style Outline

4 Outline Style LaTeX

5 Outline Style LaTeX Publishing

6 Style

7 The hard part......is to write in such a way that the reader feels that, behind the text, there is a friendly person trying to communicate.

8 The basic question Why should I read this?

9 To Entice the Reader Explain what is new Relate your work to previous work Relate your work to other areas State your main results clearly

10 Layout

11 Abstract Layout

12 Layout Abstract Introduction

13 Layout Abstract Introduction Proofs

14 Layout Abstract Introduction Proofs Conclusions, questions, prospects...

15 Layout, ctd.

16 Layout, ctd. The layout should make it easy to spot the key results

17 Layout, ctd. The layout should make it easy to spot the key results This applies to both the overall structure, and to the individual sections

18 Language

19 Language Some formality is required...

20 Language Some formality is required......but still try to write naturally

21 Language Some formality is required......but still try to write naturally Use as little notation as possible

22 Language Some formality is required......but still try to write naturally Use as little notation as possible What notation you use should be standard

23 It will help if: you do not write down everything you know, and you do not put everything in its most general form

24 Actual Writing You need outlines. Rewrite! Often.

25 LaTeX

26 Input, output Now \[ (F_i)_{r,s} ={1\over n}{w_{r,u}\over W_{r,i}{W_{s,i}\over W_{s,u}} ={1\over n}{w_{r,u}\over W_{s,u}}{W_{s,i}\over W_{r,i}} \] and therefore, \[ M_{r,s}={1\over n}{w_{r,u}\over W_{s,u}} \sum_i (\Theta(M))_{u,i}{W_{s,i}\over W_{r,i}}. \] Hence \[ nm_{r,s}(y'_{s,r})_u = (\Theta(M) Y'_{s,r})_u, \] which implies the theorem. Now and therefore, Hence (F i ) r,s = 1 n which implies the theorem. W r,u W s,i = 1 W r,u W s,i W r,i W s,u n W s,u W r,i M r,s = 1 W r,u W s,i (Θ(M)) u,i. n W s,u W r,i i nm r,s (Y s,r) u = (Θ(M)Y s,r) u,

27 Why? It s the only tool in town!

28 On What? unix/linux windows macs

29 Good news, bad news

30 Good news, bad news It s free,

31 Good news, bad news It s free, but it s not easy

32 Distributions unix: use emacs as editor (there s a web page that tells you how to get out of vi). windows: MiKTeX & WinEdt macs: TeXShop

33 Working with LateX LaTeX takes the file you have produced with your editor; this normally instructs it to load certain packages and perhaps a file of macros that you have written. Your file specifies a document class (e.g., article, letter, beamer, book) and this determines the basic format. The packages provide modifications to the basic format.

34 Packages There are lots of them Do not use a package unless you know what it does, and you need the behaviour it offers in the paper you are writing

35 Don t fight it

36 Don t fight it LaTeX gets essentially all details of formatting right

37 Don t fight it LaTeX gets essentially all details of formatting right Really!

38 Figures on windows and macs, use a drawing package to get a ps or pdf file on unix, the best solution is to have your co-author prepare them; s/he will use xfig (be grateful)

39 Publishing

40 Math ArXiv When you have a version of your paper that you are ready to submit, post it on the Math ArXiv

41 Submission Some journals permit or encourage electronic submission. For details, go to their web page and follow their instructions carefully. Some journals do not. If you submit by snail mail, include a covering letter! This should state that you are submitting the enclosed paper for publication, and in which journal.

42 The response You should get a quick acknowledgment of your submission. If you do not, then get in touch at once. It could take up to a year for your paper to be refereed. If you have heard nothing from the journal after six months, it is reasonable to contact the journal and ask how things are going. Once you have submitted a paper, you must not submit it to a second journal until it is rejected, or you have written to the journal and formally withdrawn it.

43 Choosing a journal

44 Choosing a journal Where has related work appeared?

45 Choosing a journal Where has related work appeared? What does your supervisor say?

46 Choosing a journal Where has related work appeared? What does your supervisor say? Do not ask an editor!

47 Choosing a journal Where has related work appeared? What does your supervisor say? Do not ask an editor! Choose a strong journal

48 On rejection :-(

49 On rejection :-( You will usually be told some of the problems that caused your paper to be rejected

50 On rejection :-( You will usually be told some of the problems that caused your paper to be rejected If these can be fixed, fix them, and resubmit the paper to another a journal

51 On rejection :-( You will usually be told some of the problems that caused your paper to be rejected If these can be fixed, fix them, and resubmit the paper to another a journal You may still get the same referee

52 On rejection :-( You will usually be told some of the problems that caused your paper to be rejected If these can be fixed, fix them, and resubmit the paper to another a journal You may still get the same referee You ll gain nothing by arguing with the editor - referee s are harder to find than papers

53 On Acceptance :-)

54 On Acceptance :-) Congratulations!

55 On Acceptance :-) Congratulations! Usually the referees will have noted minor problems, and the editors will ask you to fix them and then resubmit.

56 On Acceptance :-) Congratulations! Usually the referees will have noted minor problems, and the editors will ask you to fix them and then resubmit. Sometimes a referee's comment may be wrong. You may choose to ignore it, but when you resubmit you should explain clearly where you have not followed the advice offered, and why.

57 Almost Done I have some notes on writing on my web page, under `advice There s some information about TeX there, too

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