James M. Lang, a prolific author known for his insights on teaching and learning, discusses how educators can transform their classroom skills into impactful writing. He emphasizes the adaptability of teaching techniques for broader audiences. Lang shares the joys of writing, the significance of relatable narratives, and the collaborative power of writing circles. He also dives into the importance of storytelling in both education and writing, offering practical tips for aspiring authors to craft engaging narratives and navigate the publishing landscape.
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insights INSIGHT
Classroom Skills Aid Writing
Teachers' classroom skills translate well into writing for broader audiences.
Both classroom students and general readers are learners who benefit from clear, accessible explanations.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Use Learning Objectives in Writing
Use learning objectives from your course design to clarify what your readers should gain.
Envision how readers will change after finishing your book, guiding content and goals.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Build Diverse Writing Groups
Form a writing group with members from different disciplines for diverse feedback.
Include people beyond your field to better reach and engage broader audiences.
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Teachers are familiar with creating a course syllabus and developing learning objectives. Dr. Lang posits that these skills can help create a book for audiences outside one’s subject matter expertise. He provides insight into the technical aspects of writing, including organization, writing style, and revision. By providing writing prompts at the end of each chapter, Dr. Lang provides the prospective author the opportunity to immediately begin his/her/their own writing journey. The book concludes with an appendix that provides a behind the scenes look at the publishing process.
On Course
James M. Lang
Small Teaching
Small Teaching
James Lang
Distracted
Maggie Jackson
Teachers are subject matter experts that can distill information into manageable chunks for their students. In Write Like You Teach: Taking Your Classroom Skills to a Bigger Audience(University of Chicago Press, 2025), Dr. James M. Lang insists that the skills teachers use in their classrooms can be transferred to a broader audience. This book provides a step-by-step guide to assist would-be authors in researching and developing a book.
Teachers are familiar with creating a course syllabus and developing learning objectives. Dr. Lang posits that these skills can help create a book for audiences outside one’s subject matter expertise. He provides insight into the technical aspects of writing, including organization, writing style, and revision. By providing writing prompts at the end of each chapter, Dr. Lang provides the prospective author the opportunity to immediately begin his/her/their own writing journey. The book concludes with an appendix that provides a behind the scenes look at the publishing process. This is a must read for anyone interested in enhancing their writing, learning about the many parts of the publishing process, and hoping to provide their expertise to a larger audience.
In addition to Write Like You Teach: Taking Your Classroom Skills to a Bigger Audience, Dr. Lang is the author of Distracted: Why Students Can’t Focus and What You Can Do About It (Basic Books, 2020), Small Teaching: Everyday Lessons from the Science of Learning (Jossey-Bass, 2016) Cheating Lessons: Learning from Academic Dishonesty (Harvard University Press, 2013), and On Course: A Week-by-Week Guide to Your First Semester of College Teaching (Harvard UP, 2008). He has written extensively for the Chronicle of Higher Education. Dr. Lang serves as an editor to the Oklahoma University Press, is a highly sought-after speaker, and consultant. He is active on LinkedIn and Instagram and may be contacted directly at jamesmlang7@gmail.com.
Dr. Anne-Marie Verenna is a Professor of Biology and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Faculty Fellow at Delaware County Community College.
New Books in Education 
