Write it last, place it first: Why learning to write an abstract for a research paper after finishing everything else saved me

[KiraTeos]

For years, I tried to write abstracts first because they appear first in the paper. It never worked—I didn't know what to summarize before I'd actually written anything. Then a mentor gave me the best advice: write the abstract last. After the whole paper is done, you actually know what you're summarizing. I now finish my entire draft, let it sit for a day, then come back and extract the essence.

The key is being ruthless—every sentence must earn its place. I ask myself: if someone only read this abstract, would they understand why I did this research, how I did it, what I found, and why it matters? If not, I revise.

My latest abstract went through five drafts before it felt right, but each version got closer to capturing the heart of the paper. Now I actually enjoy the challenge of distilling thousands of words into a tight, powerful summary. For anyone wondering how to approach abstract writing, my advice is simple: don't rush it, write it last, and treat every word like it costs money. The result is worth the effort.

 

[AlmaBust]

For years, I tried to write abstracts first because they appear first in the paper. It never worked—I didn't know what to summarize before I'd actually written anything. Then a mentor gave me the best advice: write the abstract last. After the whole paper is done, you actually know what you're summarizing. I now finish my entire draft, let it sit for a day, then come back and extract the essence.

The key is being ruthless—every sentence must earn its place. I ask myself: if someone only read this abstract, would they understand why I did this research, how I did it, what I found, and why it matters? If not, I revise.

My latest abstract went through five drafts before it felt right, but each version got closer to capturing the heart of the paper. Now I actually enjoy the challenge of distilling thousands of words into a tight, powerful summary. For anyone wondering how to approach abstract writing, my advice is simple: don't rush it, write it last, and treat every word like it costs money. The result is worth the effort.

Kira, the "treat every word like it costs money" is going to stick with me forever. That's such a good way to think about abstract writing – every word has to EARN its place.

Here's my abstract checklist that works with your "write it last" approach:

• One sentence on background/motivation – why this research matters
• One sentence on methods – what you actually did
• Two to three sentences on key findings – the most important results
• One sentence on implications – so what? why should anyone care?

The "let it sit for a day" step is crucial. Fresh eyes catch what's missing or unnecessary. My best abstracts came after I stepped away and came back.