Thanks for tuning in for another episode of the Researchers’ Writing Podcast!I often ask researchers which section they find hardest to write and the section that is named most often is the Introduction section! I hear things like “My introductions are very long and generic and I end up with lots of references.” or “I find it difficult to write succinct paragraphs.” or “I overexplain and my Introductions are loooooong.” I think a lot of researchers aren’t using the Introduction section effectively and so that’s why today I want to talk you through the 7 mistakes I find scientific authors make when writing the Introduction section for their research paper. In this episode, I’ll talk about: (02:10) What researchers struggle with in Introduction sections(04:35) Mistake 1: Not including the element of tension(09:25) Mistake 2: The Introduction section is too long (14:00) Mistake 3: The paragraphs are too long (16:40) Mistake 4: The sentences are too long(21:05) Mistake 5: The first sense of your Introduction section is boring(23:50) Mistake 6: There’s no flow in your Introduction section(26:40) Mistake 7: Using too many synonyms in your Introduction section(31:08) Listener question: Are longer or shorter blocks of writing time better?Podcast host: Anna Clemens, PhDVideo and audio editing: Jason RiveraJoin our free training to learn more about the Journal Publication Formula at researcherswritingpodcast.com/free. Get tips on how to write every section of your paper and increase your chances of getting published in top-tier journals.

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