Episode 19 - The Value of an Online Writing Community for Academics

I talk to Yvonne Rimar, who is in charge of our community experience inside the Researchers’ Writing Academy, how important being part of a community is for all of us. In academic circles, there often is little to no focus on community which can make writing very, very lonely and feel harder than it needs to be.

A community structured around your writing can support your writing habits, making you show up more frequently to your writing, be more efficient in a writing session and also enjoy it so much more!

The Researchers’ Writing Academy community has evolved since starting the program by listening to our members’ needs. It’s now the place for researchers from across the globe to share writing struggles, wins, ask questions, experience high-touch writing accountability and feel supported by one another.

We share our favourite parts of the RWA community and why they all play a part in such a successful, shared online experience for all the academics inside the program.

Finally, I give some advice to researchers out there who maybe identify as introverted or don’t think community is necessary to their publishing success. Enjoy this episode and maybe look into joining a community near you (the Researchers’ Writing Academy would be glad to have you!) for support with your writing and publishing goals.

(01:15) Introducing Yvonne
(02:05) Community in academia
(04:05) The meaning of community
(06:26) The community inside of the Researchers’ Writing Academy (RWA)
(10:50) What you can gain from an (online) community
(26:10) How the community has evolved inside the RWA
(32:15) Writing retreats and writing sprints
(37:15) Surprises from our community
(41:10) What’s important in our community?
(41:50) Advice for struggling academics

Podcast host: Anna Clemens, PhD
Video and audio editing: Jason Rivera

Join our free training to learn more about the Researchers’ Writing Academy atresearcherswritingpodcast.com/free.

You’ll get tips on how to work with co-authors, manage your writing process, and increase your chances of getting published in top-tier journals.