Helping scientists to write and be more productive

Do you struggle to focus and write?

Maybe thinking about starting to write just makes you procrastinate. Or you cannot find the time to do it between all the things in your to-do list. Or perhaps you wish you could write with confidence, knowing what goes where.

I had all of that. And that's why I created something to solve those struggles...

Mindful Scientific Writing

A step-by-step online course for early-career scientists that helps you focus and write an experimental paper you feel great about, and have a frustration-free strategy that motivates you to write over and over!

This course is running behind the scenes...

But sign up below for my most-watched FREE masterclass and I'll tell you more about the course! (plus the first time you'll get a 100 € discount!)

I want to watch the FREE masterclass!

Or keep reading below about the Mindful Scientific Writing online course ⇩

Does any of this sound like you?


You’re an academic who loves science and you…


  • find writing very hard…”why do all my colleagues seem to find it easier? It’s clear, I am not a good writer!” (not true, by the way).
  • can write very focused for 10 minutes. But then you NEED to check your email, twitter and WhatsApp (aka procrastination). 30 minutes later you go back writing, but you need a coffee urgently… “this is not being a very productive day”.
  • have written one article (or more!), but despite all your efforts, you got back every draft full of red. Now thinking on that red ink gives you shivers, so you’re delaying to send your draft because this time needs to be perfect!
  • have written before and you enjoyed it. But now...you simply don’t have time! There are experiments to be done, students to supervise, classes to teach…”How do others find time to write?”.

If you raised your hand for any of the things listed above, let me tell you something…

You’re not alone!


Doing research, academic life, and especially writing, is TOUGH. And yet so many scientists just swallow the struggle and continue writing with the same methods that are not working for them. 

 

You’re in luck because I’ve made something for you. Now let me introduce you to the…

Mindful Scientific Writing

Mindful Scientific Writing course



A step-by-step program for early-career scientists that helps you focus and write an experimental paper you feel great about, and have a frustration-free strategy that motivates you to write over and over!


Proudly trusted by scholars at

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Mindful Scientific Writing

I have made this program in a way that when you finish it, you’ll …

  • have a draft of your article, and you’ll be confident and proud of what you have achieved!
  • look forward to sitting and writing your science because you now have the skills and know exactly what actionable steps you need to focus and start & finish ALL your papers.
  • make writing a PRIORITY and make TIME for it with your new productivity skills. End result? You'll be more productive with your writing and still time to enjoy your free time!
  • have discovered a community of scientists with a similar vision of the academic life! One that respects the humans inside a lab more than the work.
  • learn how to respond to your mental struggles with your new mindful approach to the academic life. This is a unique aspect of this program that you don’t see often in a scientific writing course!
CHECK THE DETAILS!
Mindful Scientific Writing

Ready to get started? 



This is not just a course, it is a 4-week mentoring program where you will make the time and have the accountability to write your experimental article.

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The end result: an awesome manuscript that you will be proud of and a system, crafted to your needs, to write all your papers with confidence and focus.

​

Here’s how it all breaks down:

Mindful Scientific Writing

1. THE CURRICULUM



You'll have access to our online platform where you can watch at your own pace the video lessons. These lessons are structured in 4 modules, each with several short video lessons of ca. 10 min for easy watching. Each lesson includes points for you to take action: writing parts of your paper, planning your time, or reflecting in the workbook. You'll also receive materials like workbooks, planner and extra resources.

This is the main content of each module:

Module 1

Introduction

  • Creating the right environment and mindset to start writing
  • Fundaments and mind traps of writing style
  • On finding inspiration

Module 2

Methods

  • Time management and productivity
  • A marketing approach to writing your title and abstract
  • The end of procrastination

Module 3

Results

  • Edit and revise your full manuscript
  • Scientific integrity
  • Designing impactful visual materials

Module 4

Discussion

  • Open data & publication
  • Writing with others
  • Dealing with impostor syndrome and other mind blocks

Once you join the Mindful Scientific Writing course, you get lifetime access to all of the course materials – which means you can go at your own pace, or take a break and come back to it when you’re ready. Past students keep telling me they love having the materials to go through again!


Mindful Scientific Writing
Mindful Scientific Writing

Jess Kansman

Post-doc researcher, Penn State, US

@jesskansperson

My main struggle was managing stress and anxiety while writing. In this course I have learned how important writing in a relaxed state is for my productivity. Now I exchange scrolling on my phone for reading a book, taking a walk, or doing a meditation. I feel since then I have better ideas, make less mistakes, and enjoy the process more. I feel like I have a writing plan that I can implement- and that helps me a lot! Now I have a true approach and philosophy around writing that I am confident about.

Mindful Scientific Writing

Jamin Ali

PhD candidate, Keele University, UK

@JAMIN_ALI_ALI


I have learned a lot from this course, especially about how to organise each section and their content. That was my main challenge before joining “Mindful Scientific Writing”.  After attending this course, I found myself as a motivated person, and I feel writing is not a daunting process if you get proper guidance and write every day! I strongly recommend this course, especially for early-career scientists. 

Mindful Scientific Writing

Isabel Belda

PhD candidate, Universidad Pública de Navarra, Spain

In this course I have learned the importance of having a routine, schedule my time, practice free writing and lot of tips! I used to have problems to organize my time in a productive way, and have clear words in my mind to write. Now I am more efficient in my writing and more productive in general. And I feel more confident about my writing!

Mindful Scientific Writing

Xiangyu Liu

PhD candidate, Leiden University, Netherlands


When I joined this course I had no idea of how to write an article and always felt negative about my research. Now I know some tricks to improve my writing and more importantly, to stay positive about my results, which can inspire and be useful for other scientists. An important change is that I keep writing almost every workday. Sometimes I just do some easy writing to continue my work. And the next day, I find it's not that bad and improve it!

Mindful Scientific Writing

2. THE SUPPORT



A unique aspect of this program compared with other online courses is the SUPPORT you'll receive. It's structure in 4 main components: 

Mindful Scientific Writing

CO-WORKING SESSIONS



These are sessions designed for you to focus and write. You can use them to watch the lessons and do the exercises, or to advance your manuscript.

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They are 2-hour sessions where we meet in Zoom in a group setting, and in silence, we work. There are 3 sessions per week (below you have a sample schedule), always facilitated by one of our expert editors. 

Mindful Scientific Writing

MENTORING WITH ME



When you enrol in this course, I'll be overseeing your progress. This doesn't mean babysitting, but I'll be there every week for any support you need. You just need to ask!

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I'll facilitate at least one co-working session every week, and during that time I'm in a breakout room for any question. And at the end of the session we also have a group Q&A session.

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We'll also have 3 extra group calls, one for introductions and 2 mentoring calls (where we discuss your questions). If you cannot attend the live calls, you can send me your questions in advance and you can watch later the replay videos.

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Last but not least, during the 4 weeks, we'll also have a private slack channel with all the students where you can share thoughts, ideas, or ask any question!

Mindful Scientific Writing

THE COMMUNITY



The courses of "I focus and write" keep bringing together a really nice community of early-career scientists. And you'll be part of that community where you will not feel alone anymore in your struggles! This aspect is something that past students love! (you can read more in their testimonials).

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You'll meet during "coffee chats" in a small accountability group (4-5 students), but also interact in Slack and during the co-working sessions.

Mindful Scientific Writing

REVISION OF YOUR WRITING



To help you get starting and build that confidence, I've got help of two amazing editors that will review key parts of the manuscript. Those are: title, abstract, and the introduction. These are the most read parts of a paper, and where, as an editor and reviewer, I often see scientists making mistakes. You'll have deadlines to submit your text, and that will help you keep moving!

Those editors are Alison Haughton and Judith Pell, two amazing editors with a unique experience behind their backs. Alison and Judith have more than 15 years of research experience (working in Rothamstead, UK). They have supervised their own PhD candidates, currently are editors in the journals Weed Science and Biological Control, and have edited dozens of papers as freelance science editors.

THE SCHEDULE


Here below you have a sample schedule. But for the updated version, you can have a look here.

3. THE BONUSES



This is an example of the Bonuses you may get!

Meditations

Mindful Scientific Writing

Meditation is probably the simplest thing you can do to take care of your mental strength while boosting your focus and creativity.

You will have 5 guided meditations to help you overcome the most common struggles scientists suffer: fear of failure, impostor syndrome, lack of inspiration, uncertainty about the future, and creativity.

 

And don’t worry, you don’t need to have meditated before! I even published this article in Nature to help you with a simple your meditation routine.

Yoga

Mindful Scientific Writing

As part of the mindful aspect of the course, moving your body is crucial as a self-care act. Yoga can provide you with unique benefits, especially after working a full day in front of a computer.

I have designed for you several classes for all levels including 5 office yoga classes of less than 15 min to do behind your desk, one slow-flow class to start the day with movement, or a more relaxing class to end up the day and reset your mind.

Demystifying the publishing process

Mindful Scientific Writing

In this bonus masterclass, you’ll have an insider view of the publishing process from submitting your article, handling reviewers' comments, to having it accepted and beyond.

I’ll share the common mistakes I often see as a reviewer and editor of Journal of Ecology, so you won’t make those mistakes that often delay the publication process.

And you’ll have a template of a cover, rebuttal and appeal letter!


The Myth of the R learning curve

Mindful Scientific Writing

This is a pre-recorded 1-hour masterclass  with the expert in R Luka Negoita, PhD.

In this training Luka shares his best strategies to learn R, so you can finally learn how to use this versatile tool for data analysis.

He also shares his story that will make you feel excited about getting this skill.

Ready to write your article?


Sign up now and get immediate access to the online platform, plus all this below!

Mindful Scientific Writing
  • The Mindful Scientific Writing curriculum
  • 12 co-working sessions
  • 3 Live Q&A group calls
  • Revision of title, abstract, and introduction
  • Students-only Slack group
  • Bonus 1: Demystifying the publishing process
  • Bonus 2: Office Yoga
  • Bonus 3: Meditation for scientists
  • Bonus 4: The Myth of the R learning curve

Pay in full

597 €

(+BTW)

or

3 payments of

217 €

(+BTW)

Choose the month you want to start ⇩ and enrol now 🎉


JUNE

Why you’ll love working with me? 


Hey, I’m Ana, and…

I am a scientist studying plants, microbes, insects and their ecology, and I am also crazy about the benefits of meditation. I spent years working in Wageningen (The Netherlands), writing articles in top institutions, and supervising happy students during their writing. But also revising and editing scientific articles for several high impact journals. 

And I struggled, A LOT. But I also learned from it, as well as my students and I want that you realize that the struggles are normal and part of the process. And that you can win from those struggles and keep writing until you have a paper that you’re proud of.  

Mindful Scientific Writing

My entire life I have been fascinated about PEOPLE around me. Including my colleagues, scientists I had a chat in a conference or those whose articles I reviewed. And I always thought what makes them or their work unique? What are their strengths as a person or in the articles they write? And for those I felt closer in my heart: What are their struggles and how can I help them? And I have poured the best of everything I know about writing as a scientist over the past 15 years, and about mindfulness as a yoga teacher, into this scientific writing course.

Mindful Scientific Writing

Andrea Catalina Fajardo

PhD candidate, University of Hamburg, Germany

@ancafajardo

I had the famous writer's white page block. I was always scared of the next word I needed to write. And it was quite difficult to make a real separation between me as a person and my writing as part of my PhD work. Now after this course, I do not feel scared of writing anymore. I focus on more doable and smaller tasks. Thus, I do not get that much stress and my writing is not done only one day before a deadline. My favorite aspect was the combination of mindset, mindfulness with the actual task of writing. Additionally, Ana is an amazing tutor who makes constant effort to make sure that we all have a fulfilling experience. Lastly, the option to have not only Q&A group calls with Ana, but having an accountability group is an awesome opportunity!

Mindful Scientific Writing

Javier Lidoy
PhD candidate, CSIC, Spain


Before I joined this course, I could not understand the scientific article as a whole. My writing seemed patchy as I drew inspiration from a multitude of different articles and resources.

Now I have a clear picture of the different parts of the article, and how they come together. In these weeks I have learned from Ana, but also from the problems and solutions that other students have encountered. I also love that I can access the online resources whenever I need them. As a result, I managed to finish the first draft of my article in a record time! And I am very grateful for that. 

Mindful Scientific Writing

Haymanti Saha

PhD candidate, NIOO-KNAW, The Netherlands

@HaymantiSaha

My main struggle was that I didn’t know how to strategically write a paper, how to write in a sound scientific way, and how to manage my time so I could write. In the course I’ve learned that writing is a craft that needs to be practiced and that i am not the only one who is struggling to write. The biggest “a-ha” I got was learning to recognize the knowledge gap that my paper is filling. My favorite things of the course were all the encouragement i received from Ana, the yoga tips and the extra writing masterclass! Now I have become more disciplined and more aware of what and how i write.

Mindful Scientific Writing

Gbadamassi Dossa

Associate Professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences

@GouvideDossa


This course was a game changer for me. I can proudly say I am now better equipped to write more efficiently but also know better how to guide my students. I used to struggle to write consistently, to stay focused and to write powerful introduction and discussionsections. Now I’ve learned that these sections have a structure that eases their writing and empowers their content. And finally, I now have tips at each step to boost my writing, and do it mindfully. My favourite aspects were the video calls with and and peers which gave plenty time to ask questions. And also know that my struggles were not specific to me only but common to anyone in academia. I feel motivated when others facing the same struggles are overcoming them…I then realize that I can do it as well!

Are you ready?

Yes! 


ENROLL NOW!
Mindful Scientific Writing

For who is this course?


The Mindful Scientific Writing course is for you if you want to write an experimental article that you’re happy with and have a system to do it over and over. You’re gonna love this course if…

  • you struggle with different aspects of being a scientist, and you wish you knew how to manage it.
  • you’re done wasting time trying tips you found on random websites, feeling overwhelmed, and not sure if you’re doing things right. You want a system that works!
  • you want to learn how to manage your TIME and your writing more productively.
  • you’re interested in how mindfulness and meditation can benefit your productivity when writing  but you don’t know where to begin.

But to be honest, this course is probably not for you if you’re searching for:


  • Individualized attention. I do my best on supporting you whenever you need help, and creating an intimate feeling. But please note that this is a group program.
  • Technical aspects and theory of scientific writing, such as how to avoid the passive form or the use of phrasal verbs. Although in this course we will look at some technical aspects of writing, the focus is more on what goes in where, common mistakes and how to avoid them, and behavioral aspects of scientific writing so you can implement fast what you learn.​
  • English language. The course is taught in English, but it does not include lessons on learning or improving the language. If you feel that’s your main struggle, I think there are better courses for you. 


Mindful Scientific Writing
Mindful Scientific Writing

FAQ

THIS COURSE WOULD BE A BIG INVESTMENT FOR ME. IS IT REALLY WORTH THE PRICE?

Absolutely. Most early-career scientists end up suffering a delay in defending their Ph.D. thesis or finding the next job later on. And issues with writing and time management are often at the core of that delay. If this course helps you to avoid even a one-month delay (and it will help you with that and far more), the investment is fully worthy. Now, just do the math.  

CAN I GET THIS COURSE FUNDED BY MY INSTITUTION?

You’ll need to check this with your supervisor (plus probably some sort of approval to take a course during your working hours). In my experience, you may get a full or partial funding for this type of courses, but that's out of my control ;)   

I AM A POSTDOC/ASSISTANT PROFESSOR AND HAVE WRITTEN SEVERAL ARTICLES ALREADY. IS THIS SCIENTIFIC WRITING COURSE SUITABLE FOR ME?

If you came all this way, it is! I did several “soft skill” courses myself as a postdoc, and I always learned something useful. Probably I’ll tell you some things you already know, but others will be new to you! Plus, an important aspect is also the accountability you’ll get (often not so much in this middle career stage). In the last editions, 24% of the students were post-docs and 16% assistant professors, and their feedback was very positive!

WHEN ARE THE LIVE CALLS AGAIN?



The calls with me will be on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, the first 4 weeks of the month. Above you have the schedule, with the times indicated (Madrid time zone). 

WILL YOU REVISE THE FULL MANUSCRIPT? 

No. First, I have the help of other editors for revising your text. But also, depending on your field and topic, we may not have the right scientific expertise. You'll get personal feedback on key parts of the manuscript to help you start. Those are also sections where, as an editor and reviewer I often see scientists making mistakes: title, abstract, and introduction.

IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR ANY RESEARCH FIELD?

The principles of the course apply to any research field, similar to what happens to most scientific writing books. The specific examples I show from manuscripts, and of course my personal stories around science are from my research field (Ecology, Entomology, Plant Sciences, Agriculture). If you want a number, around 15% of the slides you'll see in the videos are examples from those topics. The rest is explained in general terms that can apply to any STEM field.

DO YOU OFFER ANY REFUNDS OR GUARANTEES? 



No. Due to the limited spots in the course, I cannot offer a refund. If you are doubting whether joining or not, please send me an email explaining your situation. I’ll do my best to help you make a decision!

WHAT ABOUT CONFIDENTIALITY?



Everything will be as confidential as you want it to be. You can let me know if you don’t want me to discuss your questions in the group calls, and it’s totally up to you (although highly recommended) whether attending those calls, or joining the Slack group.

Do you have a question that is not answered here? Or would you like to discuss you situation? Just drop me an email at ana@ifocusandwrite.com! 


Mindful Scientific Writing

If you want to read more about what other students say...


Mindful Scientific Writing

Anna Feit
Full Professor
Saarland University, Germany

@AnnaFeit


When I joined this course I was struggling to keep up the motivation for writing and all my other tasks. Now I’ve learned to prioritize important tasks like writing, rather than checking emails and working on quick reward tasks that have little impact. The course (among other things like my daily meditations) also helped me at being nicer to myself, accepting the imperfect, and realizing what I achieve every day. After this course, I changed my work schedule, got more organized, and feel more motivated!

Mindful Scientific Writing

Teresa Quijano

PhD candidate, Universidad de Yucatan-CSIC, Mexico-Spain

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Before I started the Mindful Scientific course, my main struggle was the insecurity about the accuracy of my sentences and thoughts. Now, I realize that my ideas are good and that my writing although no perfect is good enough. For me, it was a matter of confidence that I could overcome when I started to write every day, and when I realized that these insecurities are quite common. As a result, I am now more fluent in my writing and I get "stuck" much less! And with that, I manage my time better and I am more productive

Mindful Scientific Writing

Ximena Cibils-Stewart
Adjunt researcher,
National Institute of Agricultural Research, Uruguay

@XimeCibils



This course has helped me with my main struggle to organize the ideas I wanted to write and work more productively during the writing progress. I’ve learned how meditation and positive feedback are important for my process of writing mainly by helping with my impostor syndrome. I loved to identify my golden hours, to fight against anxiety and impostor syndrome, to organize my thoughts, and most importantly to STOP multitasking to improve my productivity. The Pomodoro method and meditations have helped me a LOT!!!! Thanks :)

Mindful Scientific Writing

Elena Lloret
PhD candidate
Institute of Marine Sciences - CSIC, Spain

@ElenaLloret3


I liked everything about this course. It has fantastic lectures and you can rewatch them as many times as you want. Not to mention that the tips that were shared during the course were amazing and I have already implemented many of them in my daily work. Moreover, I really enjoyed the accountability group and weekly calls. They create a very nice feeling of community. Those calls made me realize that I am not the only one struggling with writing. And last, by not least, Ana is such a joyful and positive person, she helps you feel engage and motivated while learning and improving. I will definitely repeat a course with her and would recommend this writing course to everyone in the early, and not so-early scientific path!

Mindful Scientific Writing

Gabriel Souba

PhD candidate, University of Alicante, Spain

@JacquesMcPollo


This course changed my life.  To future students: this is an amazing program to channel all your insight potential into scientific writing. It will guide you through steps on how to focus and make the most of your research when preparing a paper, even if you think you already know how to do it.

Mindful Scientific Writing

Elly Morrien

Assisstant Professor, University of Amsterdam

@MorrienElly

I joined this course because I was struggling to find time to write. And I have learned how to create that time, and write effectively. Especially practicing free-writing, which has been very productive for me!

Mindful Scientific Writing

Sandra Martínez

PhD candidate, University of Alicante, Spain


This course brings an innovative perspective to do and publish science. These strategies also helped me with the common challenges of writing a paper as a Ph.D. candidate. I’d do this course again because I see that depending on the professional and personal moment you’re in, you can always learn new things. And working with Ana is pleasure…she is professional and at the same time spreads very personal energy!

Mindful Scientific Writing

Saioa Legarrea
Postdoctoral researcher
University of Georgia, USA

@Saioa_LI


When I joined this course I was facing big uncertainty which made it difficult to focus on the manuscript and stop procrastinating. Now I have become more self-conscious of the writing process and I gained valuable tools for a better writing experience. Also, I managed to change some lines of thought that were not positive for me and instead, focus on the progress of writing.

Are you still not sure if this is for you?

Send me an email at ana@ifocusandwrite.com explaining your situation and doubts and I’ll get back to you ASAP!

DISCLAIMER

Just by purchasing this program, your manuscript won’t materialize out of thin air. You’ll have to actually do the work. Your results may vary depending on your writing skills, the time you spend on the course, and the complexity of your work.

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