Ask a child why they write and you might receive a common response: the teacher told me to. Kids often lack confidence as writers and find it emotionally draining. The problem might be the classroom and its detachment from what writers do in the real world. In some classrooms, students learn writing techniques and then apply them to a […] … learn more→

You often hear writing described as a skill. And a skill is the capacity to do something well, to use expertise built up through practice. Skills are often seen as merely technical, but a skill requires specialist knowledge and often years of training. However, it’s the capacity/ability to apply and use that knowledge that matters. We often […] … learn more→

As a writer, the hardest thing is not actually coming up with an idea for the content, but rather staying organized and avoiding procrastination. Writing can be tedious, and many people tend to avoid it at all cost until the very last minute. At that point, one is under pressure to complete the daily requirements, […] … learn more→

Everyone knows that college students have to dedicate really a lot of time to their writing tasks. This is a common way to give information and to communicate with others. That’s why it is important to know how to do it well. Another crucial element is to make it fun. Sitting before a clear page […] … learn more→

I was recently asked how I felt about paragraphs. “Well you know, all the feels” I might have replied. But I didn’t, largely because I don’t usually think about the paragraph. The question made me wonder whether I take the paragraph for granted. Paragraphs sit way below my consciousness a lot of the time. But […] … learn more→

Decent writing skills may say a lot about you as a person and an employee. From that point of view, your career might rest on how good you can write. Inconsistent texts of your reports, emails and just ordinary messages in social networks or communication apps distort your professional image. Whether you are writing a […] … learn more→

The most cited work in the field of ‘academic writing productivity’ is that of Robert Boice from the 1990s. Is it that because there’s been no further research in this area or has nobody bettered his findings? We’ve just launched our own study into academic writing practice. It’s research that we hope will give anyone who needs […] … learn more→

Academic conferences can be full of networking opportunities and professional wisdom. For me, last month’s Society for the Study of Social Problems international conference was brimful of both. I had the privilege to attend talks given by prolific scholars and senior editors from across the country. I also had the opportunity to have one-on-one conversations […] … learn more→

  I’ve just written a book chapter in two weeks. This is a long time for me, and it was hard work. I’m usually someone who plans their writing quite carefully. I begin with an abstract and then flesh it out by adding bullet points. I don’t do pomodoros, or any other form of speed writing. […] … learn more→

I’ve been dipping in and out of a rather pleasurable book about writing. Most people read books about writing for utilitarian reasons – to find a new technique, to see something that might inform their own work, to seek explanations for particular conventions. And so on. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with these kinds of informative writing […] … learn more→