It’s obvious (to some) why excellent writing is important in the humanities and social sciences. These are disciplines that are hinged on language: either they study language itself, or the primary way that research is communicated is through word-heavy papers.
Most people think of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) fields as less writing-heavy. The focus of graduate training and professional research isn’t on writing, it’s on the research. So while most humanists and social scientists get at least a little bit of writing training “on the job,” so to speak, STEM researchers get next to none (barring an exemplary graduate program that invests in such things. But that’s rare.).
Writing, however, is what stands between STEM researchers and their goals. All academic disciplines rely on writing in some capacity. It’s your writing that will get your research published, your job application moved forward, and your tenure packet noticed.
But, you may be saying, it’s my research that’s the important part. That’s what will get me noticed professionally. Yes, that’s true. However, you need to be able to explain your methodology and your results clearly. You need to be able to convince your reader of the urgency of your work. Why should your research be funded, and not someone else’s? Why should your research be published, and not someone else’s?
Writing clearly and concisely is critical, especially in fields that push volume in terms of publications. Want to get published in top journals? You need to be able to explain why your research matters.
It’s a huge disservice to students and graduates that so few grad programs emphasize writing, especially in a “publish or perish” culture. But that being said, a good editor can be a godsend for when you really need to make a paper happen. We can edit not only to make your prose clear and readable, but we also know what journals are looking for; we can take that extra step to ensure your paper addresses the primary concerns of your target journal. That’s work you don’t have to do, and a higher chance of publication.
I believe strongly in making life as easy for yourself as possible. Life is already hard. Academia is brutal. If you have the resources to get help—do it. What’s the point in struggling on your own when there’s an obvious fix? Don’t let something like writing get in your way.
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