Category Archives: Helen Sword

the limits of writing advice

Posted on October 26, 2017 by

There’s a lot of understanding now about writing. There didn’t used to be. But over the last couple of decades there’s been a lot more talk and writing about academic writing. I see a lot of writing advice around on social … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, advice, Helen Sword, Kristen Iversen, pomodoro, poor advice, writing without a parachute | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

#holidayreading – air & light & time & space

Posted on July 31, 2017 by

I read a lot of books about writing and research. That’s not surprising, as I write them too and I always want to see what others are writing. And today…  Helen Sword has followed up Stylish academic writing with a … Continue reading →

Posted in academic writing, crafting writing, free-writing, good academic writing, Helen Sword | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

thesis to book: you may need to change your writing ‘voice’

Posted on July 21, 2014 by

Unlike thesis examiners, academic book publishers are looking for something that is, above all else, a decent read. A first book is by definition written by an author who isn’t widely known, so publishers will be particularly keen to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Helen Sword, nominalisation, signposts, thesis, thingification | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

another book saying academics can’t write?

Posted on August 15, 2013 by

I’ve just read Michael Billig’s latest book Learn to write badly. How to succeed in the Social Sciences. I wanted to hate it. I wanted to stay cross about the fact that it seems to be much easier to write … Continue reading →

Posted in Helen Sword, Michael Billig, nouny | Tagged , , , | 14 Comments