“The best way to learn about writing is to study the work of other writers you admire.” – Jeffery Deaver

Isn’t this an excellent bit of advice that Jeffery Deaver gives us? Do we not do this in our own writing, but also in other aspects of our lives? I think one piece is missing from his advice, however. I believe that you also have to find and study writers that have a similar tone, style, and voice to that of your own. All of those things make up who you are and who you are as a writer. Although, that isn’t to say that you still couldn’t learn something from someone that has a completely different kind of style. What is of importance, I think, is to always be reading and admiring, and of course writing, to help you grow as a writer. Wouldn’t you agree?

Happy writing!

Academic FOMO?
Are you a victim of “academic FOMO”? If you are a graduate student working towards your PhD, you may be able to identify with this piece. Also, if you do identify with this, I suggest you read the comments below the article for some possible suggestions to overcome it.

Recipe of a good reference list: Ingredients for PhD success
A very insightful piece on the importance of, and creating, a reference list. @debsnet’s style is engaging, yet informational; qualities I admire and try to learn from (as this week’s quote suggests one do).

Are You Keeping Secrets?
Well, are you?

Early Career Researcher Hub
Palgrave Macmillan’s editors put together this comprehensive guide for Early Career Researchers looking to publish their dissertation into a monograph. This is a general guide with excellent information regardless of whom you hope to publish with. (To download the guide, once you are on the Palgrave Macmillan site, click the image on the right.)

#acwri know how, know what – and know who
Pat Thomson argues that it isn’t enough to know how to write well, but that academics must also know what and know who.

Schools link textbooks to retention, graduation rates
Could incorporating the cost of textbooks into tuition costs in a “textbooks-in-tuition” model help solve the problem of students not purchasing their required textbooks? As a textbook author, what are your opinions on this model?

Article Throwback

New Year’s Resolutions for Academics | August 18, 2015
I missed seeing this article in August, so I’m sharing it now. Kevin Gannon gives solid advice for academics and the new academic year. Take note of his three words of advice on productive writing.

Stop diminishing your accomplishments | April 10, 2013
This is an excellent read, especially if you need a reminder that you are accomplishing things. A reminder that you need to give yourself credit, when credit is due.