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Happy New Year! Who Helps With Your Writing?

One of the most common laments I see on Twitter and hear from clients and others is that writing is a lonely activity and that they struggle to get feedback before they send in a draft. It doesn't have to be that way. Writing help is more widespread than you think. Here are some options:

1. Form a writing group. Put out a call on social media, reach out through a subfield email list/newsletter, email your department (or even all the faculty if you're at a small school). Accountability and companionship can come from any field, not just your own. Depending on the composition of the group, one person can circulate x pages for comment the week before, then spend 15 min on feedback, an hour writing, and 15 min on goals for next time. These groups can be virtual or in person; virtual allows you to expand the pool of invitees. 

2. Find a writing buddy. Again, use your networks to find one person to write with, exchange goals with, and exchange drafts with regularly. The key here is regularity. Weekly goals and writing time, and say, monthly feedback, can help you stay on track. For this, disciplinary familiarity is key; depending on the nature of your field, this could be broader or narrower. (Don't have a strong network? I'm doing a workshop in February on that!)

3. Look for help in all the strange places. Partners and spouses can provide feedback on coherence and convincingness from the position of an outside observer. Friends from earlier stages in your life who've ended up in other departments and fields may be interested.  Sometimes I write with a former (undergrad!) student who is now an anthropology professor. My spouse reads most of what I write; my former-schoolteacher-mother helps with page proofs (they give me anxiety attacks).  

4. Finally, if all your own resources are exhausted, use publicly available tools to commit to writing time. My Book Writer's Workshop (90 min, established writers) and Book Development Workshop (60 min, beginning writers) provide opportunities for support, feedback, goal-setting, and regular (Writer's) or sporadic (Development) writing time. My monthly Writer's Boot Camp sessions are FREE: 6 hrs of dedicated pomodoro time with camaraderie, jokes, and more, all designed to help you make the most of your writing time in a supportive environment. You can sign up for some of these below.

 

Winter Offerings
NEW: Bonus Session of Book Writer's Workshop: Friday 9 AM ET, 90 min. Join other like-minded writers for goal setting, accountability, problem solving, and an hour of writing time! Starts 1/14.

Statistics, Then and Now: 5 weeks stats review, 5 weeks hot topics and trendy tools.

Early-Stage Dissertation Small Group: Mondays noon ET starting 1/3. Prospectus drafters and those just past it.

Late-Stage Dissertation Small Group: Tuesdays noon ET starting 1/4. Past data collection and into body chapter writing.

From To Do to Done: Goal Setting and Project Management for Academics. Thurs Jan 6, 2 PM ET. 

Networking for Academics: Date TBD in February

Me, You, and the Lit Review: Fri Mar 25, 11 AM ET. 

Registration for all of these (except Networking) is now open at https://leanne102.wixsite.com/leannecpowner (check tabs at top for class category)  If it's telling you registration is closed, email Leanne@leannecpowner.com (usually that means the program has started and I didn't find the right 6 checkboxes to allow registration after the event started).
Writer's Boot Camp writing retreats return this year! Mark your calendars now for Jan 15, Feb 19, Mar 26, and Apr 16! All four dates are now available for registration. Boot Camp is free (select Pay in Person), but $5 donations from those who can afford it keep it free for all. Register at https://leanne102.wixsite.com/leannecpowner
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Copyright © 2022 Leanne C. Powner, PhD, All rights reserved.


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