‘Air and light and time and space’ is the title of Helen Sword’s analysis of “how successful academics write”. I have air in the garage, and time, and space. Light, however, has been sadly missing – which really shouldn’t be the case since the back of our house is often bathed in beautiful, golden afternoonContinueContinue reading “Light…”
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Tiny elephants!
Look what just arrived 🙂 Now, everyone taking part in the Academic Writing Programme 2025, will be able to take home their very own (tiny) elephant. (and if you’re not sure why an elephant… read this)
Books that support academic writing… but at what price?
When I’m supporting academics to write and publish, I draw on a number of books. Maybe it’s an ‘academic thing’. After all, we do love a reference. But there is so much good advice out there already that it would seem foolish (and selfish) not to point people to it. Or to pretend that whatContinueContinue reading “Books that support academic writing… but at what price?”
Life… oh, life
After I wrote the last post (in May!), I disappeared. Poof! Gone! One reason is just life – lots of it, kids’ birthdays, school, shopping, cooking, cleaning… nothing out of the ordinary though. And getting ready for a wedding – OK, this isn’t ‘ordinary’, but it’s happening in September, so every non-working moment has beenContinueContinue reading “Life… oh, life”
Excuse the gap…
As is the way for those who work freelance, working circumstances and work pressures (and opportunities) fluctuate. The last few weeks have seen me add two new contracts which each have to be completed before the end of July. These last-minute opportunities often come up at the end of the budget year when universities discoverContinueContinue reading “Excuse the gap…”
Day 17 – How many words in your sentences?
I’ve been writing… and reading. My reading is often tailored to the time of day that it happens. Daytime is for complicated reading. Nighttime is for reading that doesn’t require too much attention before I go to sleep. My nighttime reading at the moment is Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series. I’m interspersing that with IanContinueContinue reading “Day 17 – How many words in your sentences?”
The elephant
On my desk stands an elephant. It’s a simple one, made of wood. I picked it up in a market in India. It stands there as a reminder that everything will be OK as long as I make and stick to a plan. Back in 2005/6, when I was writing up my PhD, I hitContinueContinue reading “The elephant”
Day 15 – (Valid) reasons to pause
After a day off in the middle of last week, I came back to my desk on Friday, all ready to start writing. Only to find an email from Gallaudet University Press’s proof-reader, with the final proofs of the Afterword that I recently wrote for them, and a request for me to approve and returnContinueContinue reading “Day 15 – (Valid) reasons to pause”
Day 14 – Four different types of writer
in 1997, OUP published a book by Phyllis Creme and Mary Lea entitled “Writing at University”. It was a book aimed at students, but the content is just as useful for more established academics. After all, when we consider that how we write is a lot to do with how we’re wired as people, weContinueContinue reading “Day 14 – Four different types of writer”
Day 13 – The clarity of a week off. And now…
The last time I posted was just before Easter, about 10 days ago. At some point over the Easter break, the full argument of the article has crystallised out. It’s not what I thought it was. It’s bigger, simpler, and makes so much more sense. At various points over the last 10 days, I’ve sketchedContinueContinue reading “Day 13 – The clarity of a week off. And now…”
The Garage of Books 