My Lessons Learned from #AcWriSummer 2016

Earlier this summer, I proposed to form a “writing posse” that would encourage support and accountability…and keep my own writing progress in check. Little did I know how important this would be! I am SO very grateful for my scholarly peers who accepted this team challenge, lCatherine, Caroline & Patrice. These colleagues were also invested in working on a specific writing project, and they were all willing to join me on this 8-week experiment we’ve called #AcWriSummer 2016.

We started using chapters of the book, Writing Your Journal Article in 12 Weeks, to guide our writing process; however, we ended up branching out to figure out what we could accomplish or support over the summer. I sincerely thank these ladies for their willingness to contribute in our online weekly meetings, tweets for motivation/support, and general advice for editing of manuscripts and resources to develop our academic writing practice.

Here’s what I have learned from #AcWriSummer 2016:

Accountability for academic writing is good thing – regular, structured check-ins or checkpoints for the writing process as you draft a manuscript
Apparently, holidays take away from my writing habit (I stopped tracking my writing time/progress after Canada Day)
Creating a habit of writing is key – always schedule writing chunks early & often on your calendar (block out time)!
Laying the foundation of a manuscript helps your writing — outline your paper structure
Focusing and targeting your manuscript for the publication outlet you want is critical! Wr
Drafting a solid abstract that will get read and cited — keep in mind this might be all other scholars read and use, so be explicit about your study & findings here
Research the empirical literature WELL! (see resources below or read my #AcWriSummer Week 3 post)
What I write is not always what others read — be clear in your arguments and findings
Attack & conquer editing with peers to tighten drafts – Google docs are great for a 1st review of a draft
Consider what your writing process is and if it needs to be changed (or is it working)
Ask a colleague/peer for help if and when you get stuck on something in your writing
Solicit for ideas for elements of how to improve and enhance your manuscript from an outside perspective
Helpful reads and tips for writing
Collaborative team attacks for editing sections of a manuscript
Reminders incremental academic writing is still progress
Social experience with both peer learning and care – academic writing does not have to be a solo endeavor
Sharing of resources, reads, and tips to support writing (see below); however, you really need to figure out what will work best for YOU in your academic writing practice.

Interested in supporting your own #acwri practice? Here are a few great resources our #AcWriSummer group curated during the last couple of months:

Wendy Belcher’s writing advice & podcast on writing productivity
Research in Action podcasts with Dr. Katie Linder
My Fall 2016 schedule: building flexibility into my calendar – Raul Pacheco-Vega, PhD
How to write a blogpost from your article
How to write an article from your methodology
31 things to consider when selecting a journal
H-index resources from Univ. of Michigan Library
Excellent curation of Pat Thomson’s #acwri tips and suggestions
Write that Journal Article in 7 days! By Inger (@ThesisWhisperer)
The 4 moves from Pat Thomson for color coding your abstract from:
- Thomson, P., & Kamler, B. (2012). Writing for peer reviewed journals: Strategies for getting published. Routledge.
- Pat Thomson – Academic writing, understandings and strategies http://www.slideshare.net/socedu28/pat-thomson-academic-writing-understandings-and-strategies via @SlideShare

Now that our “formal” #AcWriSummer 2016 curriculum is over, it is time to get these drafts finished. I will need some #ShutUpAndWrite time before I can properly enjoy any holiday time that remains in August. At least I have my motivation for getting my #acrwisummer projects done. Happy writing, y’all!