Academic Writing Talk

Scholars are justifiably critical of AI. I have a slightly different perspective as an interpretive researcher and writing coach. In this episode, I talk about how students are really using AI writing tools—and the worries I have!

What are the new problems introduced by AI writing tools? I think there are a few obvious ones. However, the way forward is anything but clear!

Academics are losing control over their writing process. They outsource interpretation to AI writing tools, which emphasize product. In this episode, I’ll talk about why this is potentially disastrous—and what you can do about it!

AI writing tools have thrown another cog in the gears of academia. How can academic writers get back to what they love to do? In this episode, I float a few ideas!

Yes, I’m back to making podcast episodes! This week, I’m reflecting on the toughest ethnographic fieldnote from my last book. (In honor of Carl V. Lewis.)

It's tough to decide when to embark on a long writing project! In this very personal episode, I talk about how I decided to write one book and not write another—at least, for now.

In this episode, I talk about the problems of an over-reliance on AI writing tools. It’s led to what I’ve started to think about as a new genre of AI writing problems that academic authors should be aware of—but I rarely hear talked about! 

I work with numerous international clients on their book manuscripts. Over time, I've found that they confront unique challenges. In this episode, I talk about how you can surmount them and get your book published in a top-tier academic press.

What's the difference between a history book and a book that tells a history? In this episode, I discuss why academics write histories, whether intentionally or unintentionally.

Given the academic obsession with novelty, today's episode may seem odd. Why should your academic writing not be unique? The answer is simple and easy to understand!

If you’re wondering where your summer went, this episode is for you! Don’t panic—it’s a common feeling. Instead, strategize how you’ll prioritize writing projects in the fall. And if you want to keep going, I’ll give you a few pointers!

What challenges academic writers with ADHD? In this episode, I talk about personal experiences that may sound familiar to you. A personalized approach can help writers with ADHD make the most of their natural gifts!

First impressions are everything! So, what do you talk about in the first meeting with a freelance editor or writing coach to make a good impression? Remember, a positive working relationship is as much about the person as the project... listen on!

Storytelling is how humans make sense of the world. So why do academic publishers often not like it? In this episode, I talk about the pitfalls and opportunities of using narratives in academic writing.

The dissertation is the most feared challenge of the PhD—but why? It’s not just a “big essay.” It’s fundamentally different than anything you wrote or will write. In this episode, I’ll tell you about the real challenges that the dissertation imposes.

I routinely get asked if I have advice for fellow “alt-academics.” It’s fun to chat with folks about business things, but lately, I’ve been too busy! So if you’re interested in this topic, I interviewed myself about my own journey. It’s a bit different!

If you’re a grad student, you may be wondering how to pick a research topic for your dissertation. That’s what we’ll talk about in this week’s episode! Learn what factors to consider—and why not to just pick a topic because your advisor researches it.

Today we’re busting the myth that academics write alone! Looking at history and publishing statistics shows a growing trend of collaborative writing. So rather than put pressure on ourselves, academic researchers and authors should recognize the valuable social relationships available to them.

In this episode, we celebrate (nearly) a year of Academic Writing Talk! Inspired by Spotify “unwrapped,” I look to the data to see what you liked to listen to. Did I get it right? Let me know... and happy holidays and New Year!

Most academic articles are written by more than one person. But what makes for a trusting and productive co-author relationship? To answer that question, I interviewed Neta and Ioana about their decade of international writing collaboration, which recently culminated in the publishing of their book "Not Your Parents' Politics" for Oxford University Press.

Co-authoring articles and even whole books is an important part of academic writing! In this week’s episode, I’ll talk about problems that emerge when collaborating on papers, and how you can recover from them.

This week I talk about one of my “North Star” concepts that helps orient academic writers. If you’ve ever wondered what the first thing to think about when starting a piece of academic writing, look no further!

In response to the election results, you might be wondering what you can do. In this episode, I talk about the “Three Rs” for writing coaching, which can help professors open space for trust and empathy with graduate students.

In today’s episode, I interview games researcher Dr. Aaron Trammell, who is an Associate Professor of Informatics at UC Irvine. We touch on our personal writing challenges, writing as pedagogy, and ultimately decide we want to… work at a video rental store? You’ll have to hear why!

In today’s episode, I interview games researcher Dr. Aaron Trammell, Associate Professor of Informatics at UC Irvine, about his recent trifecta of books published for NYU, MIT, and Duke. We touch on how themes cut across books and why academics can be our own worst critics! (Pt. 2 is coming next week.)