Interlude: Manuscript Order, Beyond PubMed, and Secret Cameras in Excel
Last week, I made a small error that many editors might find discreditable.
Just before my newsletter went out, I thought I'd do another quick pass through the text. I wanted to change the wording ever-so-slightly (meaning, the change didn't really make a difference). And in a mad dash to schedule the newsletter, I made the change quickly.
And that quick change resulted in...a typo. Right out of the gate. Sigh.
When I noticed the typo, I immediately felt embarrassed. But rather than get swallowed in my embarrassment over a typo, I paused and thought about the lessons I could take away from it.
Lesson #1: Avoid making "quick" last-minute changes that aren't crucial. These changes could lead to much bigger problems than a typo.
Lesson #2: Give yourself grace. You can be highly skilled at something and still overlook things and make mistakes (especially when rushed).
Lesson #3: You are your own harshest critic. (This one is actually something that my college advisor shared with me and that has stuck with me ever since.) Be kind to yourself.
Although I'm still a bit embarrassed by the small typo, I think it was a great reminder of some bigger life lessons.
What is something that a typo has taught you? Hit reply and let me know.
Now onto this week's round-up...
💌 Round-up
💻 From My Desk
Best Order to Draft Sections of a Research Manuscript
Are you struggling to figure out the best order to draft the sections of your research manuscript? Whether you’re just starting out, have bits and pieces drafted, or are looking to optimize your writing process, this video is for you. You’ll learn a practical, 10-step process for drafting the main sections of a research manuscript that will help you build momentum and save time and energy.
👓 Reading
Inclusion of Retracted Studies in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Interventions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
"This study found that retracted studies have been included in systematic reviews and meta-analyses, with retractions occurring mainly after the publication of the systematic review. The inclusion of retracted studies can impact the results and interpretation of reviews. Quality control measures should be implemented to prevent the dissemination of unreliable data in scientific literature.”
🎧 Listening
Beyond PubMed: CME's Hidden Treasure Map – Write Medicine
PubMed is a well-known resource for evidence-based information for researchers, clinicians, educators, and medical communicators. But with recent uncertainties at the NIH, many people are concerned about PubMed's future. In this podcast episode, medical librarian Rachel Wedeward, MLIS, AHIP, reveals why PubMed matters and practical alternatives to this platform.
🖥️ Watching
The Problem of Creating Value with Words (Highlights)
In this video, Larry McEnerney, former director of the University of Chicago's writing program, shares his thoughts on the role of words in creating value in academic writing, the relationship between thinking, writing, and reading; why an outdated model of science leads to writing with no value; and more.
🧰 Tools
Excel has a secret camera button
Do you need to take a picture of a table in Excel but don't want the image to look like an amateur screenshot? This feature lets you capture an image of an entire table or part of a table. And if you change a value in the table, Excel will automatically update that value in the image.
Thank you so much for reading.
Warmly,
Crystal
