you think you have a reasonably good story.
In fact you should begin formulating what this story is as you do your
first experiment.
you have finished all your critical
experiments and have completed the analysis. Your conclusions may be fossilized
prematurely if you do (i.e. you may be reluctant to change your point of view).
Before
you have finished exploring all the loose
ends. Most of the time these loose ends are endless. Writing up the paper will
help determine which are critical. So be prepared for more experiments.
things start changing in the lab and
definitely long before you plan to leave. Writing from afar is, at the very least, a pain
and often impossible!
Short snappy papers have several advantages.
It is amazing how ideas that seem logical in your head are often clearly not so when you
take the time to put them to paper. Writing things up, along the way, clarifies your
thoughts in an ongoing fashion.
A short paper with a single story is easier to write (and easier to read).
You can publish sooner and not get scooped.
You can publish more frequently, keep your name in the limelight, have a long CV and
enhance your chances of funding.