Breaking the Shackles of Academic Prose
What if stylish academic writing isn't as risky as we fear?
Dear fellow writer,
On October 17, I invited criminologist David R. Goyes, a senior researcher at the University of Oslo, to join me for a conversation on “Writing and Risktaking.”
If you missed out on the live event, you can now watch a video of the first hour by requesting the link here. WriteSPACE members can access the full two-hour event video in their membership Library.
Here are some excerpts from WriteSPACE Event Manager Amy Lewis’ personal account of the event:
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This live Special Event featuring Helen Sword and David Goyes offered a provocative entry into the world of risky writing. Breaking free from the straitjacket of academic prose is by no means an easy task; it takes a lot of courage to dismantle imitative writing habits, broaden your mindset, find supportive colleagues to back your ideas, and stand firm about the creative elements into your academic work.
Seems like a lot of obstacles, doesn’t it? But by the end of the session, Helen and David had convinced me of the great opportunities and joy to be found in risky writing.
Some memorable quotes from David in response to Helen’s questions:
Q: What is risky writing?
A: Risky writing could be going against the stream, challenging conventions, or using tools that others don’t use. It is risky because you think, “If I deviate from the academic standard, I won’t be published, I’ll be criticised, or I won’t be taken seriously.”
Q: Is it harder to take risks when you’re not a native English speaker?
A: Writing in your second language can make you a better writer. It’s risky, but it challenges you to achieve clarity and depth.
Q: Doesn’t risky writing lead to pushback from editors and peer reviewers?
A: It’s a myth! I would say that 95% of peer reviewers appreciate risky or creative elements. More often, it is the co-authors who generate pushback, or maybe it is even self-disciplining.
David showed us praise-filled reviews of his “riskiest” articles, which draw on techniques such storytelling, poetry, personal narrative, conversation, dialogue, and melodrama. He posed us a challenge: We must look at risk with new eyes. Something may be safe despite looking unsafe. David remembers going to a prison in Bolivia to conduct research; nervous about entering a high-security prison to interview murderers and other serious offenders, he was surprised when his scariest interviewee started crying and confessing his loneliness.
We often erect boundaries and suffer from fears that have been taught to us or reinforced by others in our discipline. Unless we learn to push against these boundaries and scrutinise these fears, we can end up locking ourselves in our own kind of prison, a space where there is no creative licence to be found.
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You can read Amy’s full account of the event on my blog. Warm thanks again to David Goyes for a thought-provoking conversation, and to the members of my wonderful WriteSPACE community for subsidizing this free event. An annual membership costs just $12.50 per month and unlocks access to hundreds of premium writing resources, including videos of all my past Special Events. Why not do your writing a favor and join the WriteSPACE today?
I’d love to see you there!
Coming soon
Writers and their Notebooks - November 15/16, 2023
My next WriteSPACE Special Event, on Writers and their Notebooks, will take place online from 3-5 pm EST (Eastern Standard Time) on Wednesday November 15 (which translates to the morning of November 16 for those of us on the other side of the dateline). Join me and Jillian Hess, professor of English at the City University of New York and author of the wildly popular Substack newsletter Noted, for a lively conversation on the creative note-taking habits of authors, artists, musicians, politicians, scientists, and other writers. The first hour is FREE for all who register. In the second hour, Jillian and I will conduct a playful note-taking workshop exclusively for WriteSPACE members. Register now to attend the live event or to receive the video link later.
In the WriteSPACE
Weekly Wayfinder for Oct 30 - Nov 5
WriteSPACE and WS Studio members: Every week in the WriteSPACE Maproom, you’ll find a featured writing resource to expand your horizons, a playful pomodoro timer to help you keep your writing on track, and a writing-related challenge to sharpen your skills.
This week’s resource: Articles by Helen Sword
This week’s timer: Blue Macaron
This week’s challenge: Browse the online articles
Not a member? Sign up for a free 30-day trial and check out all our great writing resources for yourself.
Other writing news
#AcWriMoments — Daily prompts for purposeful writing
Embrace #AcWriMoments this November! Every day for 30 days, you’ll receive daily prompts contributed by writers, editors, and scholars who understand the holistic nature of academic writing. These free prompts will invite you to rediscover your identity, values, and joy as a scholar. By asking gentler, more profound questions than — “How many words can I pump out today?” — you can transform your writing experience and create work that is uniquely yours. And you can share this enriching experience of scholarly empowerment with your peers too. To start your journey, click the link below.
For a double dose of writing inspiration and support, pair #AcWriMoments with the Productivity Catalyst (Nov 4 - Dec 13). This friendly, nurturing 6-week course will help you transform your relationship to concepts such as time, space, and flow.
Do you have writing-related news, events, or resources to share? Contact me with a brief description (50 words max), a hyperlink, and a high-quality image.
Spread the joy! Please encourage your friends, colleagues, and students to join me in the WriteSPACE, a vibrant, low-cost writing community with members in 30+ countries. As a WriteSPACE member, you’ll enjoy free access to Helen’s Word and other premium resources including live workshops, exclusive videos, and weekly prompts.
Kia pai tō koutou rā (have a great day) – and keep on writing!
Helen