10 Tips for Doctoral Writing: (From a Ghostwriter + Grad Student)

Most of the writing I do doesn’t have my name on it.

As a ghostwriter and editor, I live in the background—helping leaders, authors, and doctoral students bring their words to life. As a current doctoral student myself, I know firsthand how daunting the process can be when it’s your name on the page.

Doctoral writing is different. It’s not just longer—it’s heavier. It demands clarity, consistency, and emotional endurance. You’re building something that didn’t exist before. That’s thrilling. And exhausting.

Whether you're writing a dissertation, doctoral project, or capstone, here are ten tips I’ve learned (and often tell my clients) that can save you time, energy, and maybe even your sanity.

1. Start writing before you're ready.

When I started my own dissertation, I had this idea that I needed to read everything before I wrote anything. That strategy quickly led to burnout and paralysis. I spent weeks organizing sources and highlighting PDFs, but the cursor on my Word doc just blinked—mocking me.

The truth? You won’t feel ready. Ever. But you don’t need to feel ready to begin. Starting early, even with rough drafts, gives your brain something to shape. Start by freewriting your thoughts, summarizing articles, or sketching your argument. You’ll gain clarity as you go.

2. Use a citation manager from day one.

One of my clients once sent me nearly 200 citations—just hyperlinks and book titles. No page numbers. No consistent formatting. We had to go through every single source to track down the exact pages, authors, publishers… it took so long.

I’m telling you: citation tools like Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley are your BEST FRIENDS. They let you save sources, tag them, pull page numbers, and generate citations automatically. It’s not just about being organized—it’s about reclaiming your time and sanity when you're deep in chapter writing or revisions.

Set it up early. Use it consistently. Your future self will thank you.

3. Write in sprints, not marathons.

In my early writing days, I’d block out 6-hour Saturdays to “finally make progress.” But I’d end up staring at the screen for hours, flipping between tabs, re-reading the same paragraph over and over. It was brutal.

Eventually, I switched to writing in 90-minute sprints, right before bed. No distractions. No editing. Just writing. Writing in sprints creates rhythm. It honors your brain’s limits and helps you sustain the long haul.

If you try to force yourself to write for hours on end, you’ll burn out—fast. Even if all you manage today is a paragraph or a single solid page—that’s okay. Celebrate it. Then try again tomorrow. Pace matters in doctoral work. Be patient with the process—and with yourself.

4. Stop chasing the perfect sentence.

You don’t need the perfect words—you just need words. Let your first draft be full of ugly sentences, awkward phrases, and unfinished thoughts. That’s part of the process. Here’s the deal: you can’t revise a sentence that doesn’t exist. So get the ugly version down and then revise it.

Write first. Polish later. Clarity is built, not born.

5. Outlining isn’t optional—it’s survival.

You don’t build a house without a blueprint—and you shouldn’t start writing a dissertation without an outline. I never begin ghostwriting work without one. It’s what keeps everything aligned, purposeful, and clear.

Most of my outlines include questions that each section should be answering. That keeps the writing focused, not just filled. You’re not just putting words on a page—you’re building an argument, step by step.

Think of your outline as a guide, not a cage. It won’t lock you in, but it will keep you from getting lost.

6. Use AI as a writing partner.

AI tools like ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful in the doctoral writing process—if you use them wisely. Need to rephrase a clunky sentence? Talk through your argument? Brainstorm a title? AI can help you get unstuck and keep things moving.

I often use AI to draft rough outlines, explore alternative wordings, or clarify complex ideas. It’s like having a second brain on standby—one that doesn’t get tired or distracted.

That said, be sure to check with your committee or institution about their AI policy. Every program is different, and transparency matters. Some committees may allow AI-generated support with proper attribution, while others may not.

Bottom line: AI should support your thinking, not replace it. Use it to shape, stretch, and refine your work—but let your voice lead the way.

7. Don't wait for inspiration.

People think writing is about inspiration. But it’s more about showing up. It’s routine. And ritual.

Every night, I light a candle, open my laptop, and write for at least 30 minutes. That’s my rhythm. It doesn’t always feel magical, but it keeps me moving. Writing regularly builds muscle. It makes writing easier even when it’s hard.

8. Know your committee’s pet peeves.

I’ve worked with several different doctoral committees—each with their own expectations, preferences, and pet peeves. Some hated bullet points in academic papers, while others thought they were absolutely necessary. Some cared deeply about the precise wording of every sentence, and others… couldn’t care less as long as the argument held together.

There’s no universal standard. That’s why it’s crucial to listen closely to your committee’s feedback, read between the lines, and adjust your writing accordingly. If your chair consistently edits your transitions, that’s a clue. If another flags every passive sentence, take note.

Tailoring your writing isn’t selling out—it’s strategic. The clearer your understanding of their priorities, the smoother your path to approval.

9. Don't wait to edit until the end.

Getting your thoughts out—messy and all—is a great start. That’s how all good writing begins. But don’t stop there. You have to go back and shape it.

In my editing experience, I’ve often seen writers power through their entire paper without reviewing as they go. By the end, they haven’t read through the whole thing section by section to make sure it flows. Things get repeated, transitions get clunky, and ideas start to overlap—because when you write on different days, your mind approaches the topic differently. It’s easy to forget you already made that point three pages ago.

Light editing as you go—paragraph by paragraph or section by section—helps prevent major issues later. Then, when the full draft is done, go back again with fresh eyes. Getting it out is essential. But shaping it? That’s where the real writing happens.

10. This is a contribution, not a masterpiece.

One of the biggest mental hurdles in doctoral writing is the pressure to make it perfect. To say something groundbreaking. To write something worthy of being published, quoted, and admired.

But here’s the truth: your dissertation or doctoral project doesn’t have to be your life’s defining work. It just has to be a meaningful contribution. Something faithful. Something complete. That mindset shift can take a huge weight off your shoulders.

I’ve worked with students who froze because they thought their writing had to be flawless. They’d sit on chapters for months, afraid to submit anything until it was “just right.” The problem? Just right doesn’t exist. Academic writing is iterative. Your work will grow, shift, and deepen over time—but you have to start somewhere.

Give your best effort, but release the pressure to write the final word on your topic. You’re stepping into a conversation—not ending it. Your voice matters not because it’s perfect, but because it’s honest, researched, and yours.

Your job is to contribute. The masterpiece can come later.

Whether you’re starting chapter one or knee-deep in revisions, doctoral writing is an act of perseverance. My hope is that these tips help you stay grounded, focused, and reminded that this work matters—even when it feels overwhelming. Keep going. You’re writing something worth reading.