Fib

Target audience!

If you are writing for a thesis committe, or often for a "conference," much of the target audience is probably more interested in proving what they know than in learning from you. The technical term for what an author must do here is called "sucking up" rather than writing. It's one of the well known barriers to scientific progress.

Unfortunately, too many "authors" apparently learn the "conference method" and never get over it.

An actual quote from a Tech Editor's email to an author about a week ago:

"Anyone who understands what you wrote here doesn't need this book."

Sums it up pretty nicely.

John