Writing Groups for Academics (Faculty and ABDs)

By Mary Beth Averill

For the past few months, I have been attending a writing group that grew out of a TAA writing retreat. I would categorize our group, which started out meeting weekly and now has meetings three times a week, as a “shut up and write” group. We start with a brief check in on Zoom, saying what we each want to accomplish in the coming hour. At the end of the hour, we meet again briefly to say what progress we made. Group members who want to keep going that day state their goals for the next hour.

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Focus On or Go Wide?

By John Bond

If you’ve ever stared at a blank screen and wondered how wide or narrow you should write, you’re in good company. The tension between writing narrow versus broad lives at the heart of scholarly publishing. It’s a classic dilemma: go deep and speak to a specialized very knowledgeable audience that truly gets it or go broad and frame your knowledge for readers across multiple disciplines. Let’s look at both approaches, because each has its own virtues, risks, and rewards.

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Dear Dr. Noelle: Are You Dragging Your Dissertation Feet?

By Dr. Nolle Sterne

Q: Maybe it’s the new year, but I can’t seem to get going on my dissertation.

—Word Dawdler

A: Sounds like you’re dragging your dissertation manuscript in sorry tow behind you like an annoying younger brother. You’re probably doing the impossible already—on campus or online, like many other graduate students—juggling family, work, and school. Your academic struggles are intensified by the stresses of such multiple responsibilities and too often you’re slowed down to stop.

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How to Overcome Procrastination

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

Do you see yourself as a procrastinator? If so, you’re not alone; many people feel the same, myself included.

Recently, I found myself putting off writing an article I needed to complete. Although I enjoy writing, I tend to procrastinate when the topic is unfamiliar and requires effort and energy. I decided it was time to learn more about how to overcome this habit, and I want to share some insights I gained from Tal Ben-Shahar (2023) in one of his lectures on the subject.

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Integrity: A Lifelong Practice

By John Bond

Integrity underlies so many aspects of academia, but it is rarely front and center in discussion. Perhaps it is a given and therefore need not be brought to center stage. But with the changes to the world in the past year, five years, or twenty years, a closer look might be worthwhile.

Integrity is the very foundation of academia. The word itself can be quixotic. In my mind it means, acting honestly and ethically in all aspects of academic endeavors and, more specifically, in scholarly work. This includes everything from conducting research and presenting results to collaborating with others and critiquing their ideas. The fundamentals of academic integrity are honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility.

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Effective Writing Practices to Help You Make Progress

By Angelica Ribeiro, PhD

As a new semester begins, it’s essential to implement effective writing practices that can help you advance your projects. In this article, I share some key practices you should consider:

1. Incorporate Daily Writing, Short Writing Sessions, and Writing Logs

Achieving progress is one of the most satisfying feelings. To experience this, establish habits that lead you toward your goals and track your progress to provide visual evidence of your hard work.

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