First steps for a second edition

It’s time for a new edition of Doing Qualitative Research Online! At SAGE, that decision isn’t an automated step. The decision is thoroughly considered and vetted. I had several meetings with my excellent acquisitions editor, then created a proposal which was sent out for review. Comments from reviewers were discussed in further conversations, and we came to an agreement.

Now I have to do the work. How should I start? Every time I write a book, I am determined to avoid problems encountered in past projects. No matter how hard I try, I end up with some degree of frenzy at the end. To lay a positive foundation, here are the questions I am exploring and the steps I am taking:

Member Spotlight: Paul M. Vitanyi

TAA member Paul Vitanyi is a professor emeritus at the University of Amsterdam, CWI fellow at the Netherlands National Research Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (CWI), and is both a textbook and academic author in the computer science discipline.

His most recent publication is the fourth edition of An Introduction to Kolmogorov Complexity and Its Applications published by Springer. 

Distinguishing features of academic writing #1: Precision

During the course of Academic Writing Month (AcWriMo) in November 2019, we explored five distinguishing features of academic writing – the first of which being precision.

What does it mean to write with academic precision? In this article, we recap the event where we sought the answer to this question. During the discussion, we also explored the importance of academic precision and the effects of word choice, active voice, redundancy, and organization on the goal of precision in our manuscripts.

A new page

The year (and decade) has changed and it’s time to start anew. I am sure lots of people have personal resolutions about self-improvement, health, work, and more. I wish you well with yours and hope to keep 50% or more of mine!

As the year begins, consider what to do with existing projects. If you are staring at a blank page or a new idea, then go in peace and good luck. Many of us, however, have research or writing projects in progress. This is a good time to take stock of their status and determine how to move forward. Of course, finishing them or getting them published seems like the obvious answer. But take a moment.

Member Spotlight: Jamie Pope

TAA member Jamie Pope is an Assistant Professor of Practice in Medicine, Health and Society at Vanderbilt University and is a textbook author in the nutrition writing discipline.

Her most recent publication is the second edition of Nutrition for a Changing World (Scientific American and Macmillan Learning) published January 2019. Earlier in her career, she was author or co-author of several popular press books in the weight management arena.Â