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?”
Tag Archives: Writing
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…”
Day 12 – One-touch is all it takes
Have you ever been in that situation where you know you had perfect evidence for something, but you either can’t remember quite exactly what it was, or quite where you found it. But you really need it. And you remember that it was probably in a book that you read a week or so ago,ContinueContinue reading “Day 12 – One-touch is all it takes”
Day 10 – “I can get them for you in a couple of weeks”
Roadblock… there are two really key documents that I need to read before I can really say that I’ve covered everything I need in my background work. Unfortunately, they’re in Paris, and I don’t have an electronic copy in my (vast, but sadly missing in this case!) electronic archive. I have a colleague there whoContinueContinue reading “Day 10 – “I can get them for you in a couple of weeks””
Day 1 – planning and reading
Today is day 1 of AWP2024WritingZoo: this year’s Academic Writing Programme writing experiment… and it’s time to start planning. Yesterday, I picked what I was going to write – a journal article, and a rough topic… with a few questions in mind. I did this by journaling… just free-writing around what I wanted to do,ContinueContinue reading “Day 1 – planning and reading”
The Garage of Books 