Tag Archives: Helen Sword

the limits of writing advice

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

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 , , , | 2 Comments

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

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?

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