The first key to developing a healthy writing practice despite writing anxiety is gentle persistence. Every writer needs to maintain a consistent practice over time, which takes persistence and self-discipline. But persistence and self-discipline must be applied judiciously. As discussed in the series introduction, “try harder” and “be more disciplined” are not particularly good advice for someone struggling with writing anxiety because trying harder can lead to destructive practices. If you are suffering and you “try harder” to “be more disciplined,” you are likely to reinforce the negative experiences that contribute to writing anxiety. In a healthy practice, persistence is carefully balanced to approach your limits without pushing past them. You need the persistence to push against your limits and face challenges, and you need the gentle sensitivity to step back and care for yourself.
Member Spotlight: Pamela Gordon
TAA Member Pamela Gordon is lecturer at Norwalk Community College teaching classes in art appreciation and humanities and a textbook author in the art discipline. Her latest publication is Art Matters: A Contemporary Approach to Art Appreciation (Oxford University Press, 2020).
She is currently working on the second edition of Art Matters.
Most useful textbook and academic posts of the week: January 21, 2022
Three weeks into 2022, most textbook and academic authors have begun a new semester of teaching, learning, and (of course) writing. As the new calendar year often comes with good intentions, plans for improvement, and resolutions to do and accomplish more than the year before, our collection of articles this week shares some tips and strategies for approaching your future efforts of writing, marketing, and producing your content for readers.
As you work on your writing this week, remember the words of Philip Pullman, “Read like a butterfly, write like a bee.” Happy Writing!
How to sabotage your writing and publishing efforts
It is a new year and I hope 2022 will be a healthy, contented, and successful one for you. The successful part requires hard work and diligence. It also requires productive habits and some learned skills.
But perhaps you do not want to be successful. So, with tongue firmly planted in-cheek, here are the top ways to sabotage your writing and publishing efforts this year.
Member Spotlight: Corey S. Shdaimah
TAA Member Corey S Shdaimah is the Daniel Thursz Distinguished Professor of Social Justice at the University of Maryland School of Social Work and an academic author in the social work and policy implementation writing disciplines. Her latest publication is Social Welfare Policy in a Changing World.
She is currently working on two books- Research Handbook on Law, Movements, and Social Change with co-editors Steven Boutcher and Michael Yarbrough (forthcoming, Edward Elgar) and The Compassionate Court: Support, Surveillance, and Survival in Two Court-Affiliated Prostitution Diversion Programs with co-author Shelly Wiechelt (forthcoming, Temple University Press).
Most useful textbook and academic posts of the week: January 14, 2022
Why do you write? Are you writing to share you knowledge with others? Are you writing to get the thoughts out of your head and onto paper? Perhaps, here at the start of the year, you are writing (or not) because you have resolved to do so. Or are you like Flannery O’Connor who said, “I write to discover what I know.”
In this week’s collection of articles from around the web, we find insight on new years’s resolutions for authors, writing deadlines, writing strategies, the end of writer self-doubt, and the future of open access. Whatever your reasoning, we encourage you to write every day. Happy writing!