Writing It!

We speak with Yale Professor Maurice Samuels about writing biography, and the importance of finding stories we feel compelled to tell. Samuels talks about finding the right writing voice; when to share writing with colleagues and friends; potential benefits and consequences of publishing with a trade press; creating a table of contents that helps readers; the importance of footnotes; and how our career stage might influence the kind of books we write. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

If you’re like us, you’ve probably noticed that many academics write for The Conversation media outlet. The site does not pay writers, so why is it such a popular site for academics to publish their research? To find out what The Conversation offers, we’re speaking Beth Daley, the site’s Executive Editor. Daley explains that since 4-5 million readers visit The Conversation website every week, the site provides an unusual opportunity for academics to engage with the public. As Creative Commons stories, The Conversation stories can be republished by other publications, including The Washington Post, LA Times, Yahoo News, and local news sites. Daley explains why you don’t need to have a fully formed article to pitch to The Conversation, and what kinds of skills and opportunities writers have received through as a result of publishing in The Conversation. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

In this episode we speak with historian Nina Caputo and illustrator Liz Clarke about their book, Debating Truth: The Barcelona Disputation of 1263, A Graphic History, published in the Oxford University Press Graphic History Series. We talk about the particular kind of research and writing required for a graphic history; how collaboration between academic and illustrator works; how graphic histories figure into tenure and promotion; what academics can learn about writing from working on a graphic history; why graphic history can be a worthwhile medium for a scholar to reach broader audiences; and what kinds of details illustrators need from academics to create a beautiful book. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact

We're talking with LIz Bucar, professor of religion at Northeastern University, and a prizewinning author about the program she directs Sacred Writes: Public Scholarship on Religion. We talk about the essential ingredients of a good pitch (including the ALL-CAP subject line) to a magazine/newspaper editor; how to communicate timeliness; and how to follow up in a way that invites a future relationship with the editor. Liz also explains what kinds of social media might work for scholars. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast Contacts us with questions, possible future topics/guests, or comments here: https://writingit.fireside.fm/contact If you'd like to learn more about Sacred Writes, follow this link: https://cssh.northeastern.edu/sacred-writes/Links:Sacred Writes: Public Scholarship on Religion

In this episode we speak with Thinking Like Your Editor author and agent, Susan Rabiner about how academics can best present their book project to an agent or editor. We talk about what a strong book proposal, cover letter, and sample chapters need to do. We also talk about what it means to write your academic book with strong narrative; the significance of the table of contents; why academic writers cannot rely on facts alone to make a point; the importance of figuring out your “core audience”; understanding your book’s central questions; what to expect (and not expect) from a literary agent and from a trade press; why an academic press might be a better fit for your book; and why it’s okay not to earn out your advance. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

You don’t have to be a parent to get something out of our conversation with Professor Laura Yares about “Writing While Parenting.” In this conversation, we speak about how to get writing done while caretaking; how to best take advantage of limited time to write; writing when the family stakes are high; time-blocking; lingering Covid trauma; finding and building an academic writing community; letting our writing lie fallow; dealing with the loneliness of parenting within academia; leaning in to the creative parts of our academic jobs; and the importance of modeling good “professor-ing with a family” boundaries. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

We’re speaking with UF English Professor Margaret Galvan about writing a book with lots of images; how to find a press that can accommodate image-rich manuscripts; what a book publicist will actually do for you; how to cultivate a relationship with your publicist and editor; how to be thoughtful about book promotion; when and why to apply for a fellowship for book two; the importance of finding colleagues and friends who will get excited about your book; and handling the details of getting a manuscript ready for production. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

Today we’re speaking with Pulitzer Prize winning scholar, Jack E. Davis, who is a UF professor of history and the Rothman Family Chair in the Humanities specializing in environmental history and sustainability studies. Jack talks with us about writing for a broader audience; what makes writing fun for him; the not-so-easy task of finding an agent; what it’s like to be an academic with a fellowship at MacDowell; and the experience of winning a Pulitzer. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

Today we’re speaking with UF Press Editor in chief, Stephanye Hunter and UF Press Marketing Manager, Rachel Doll. Among our many topics, we discuss recent changes in the academic publishing world; important considerations in titling your book; what you can reasonably ask/expect of your editor; how to think about writing an op-ed, before book publication; what kind of publicity you can do on your own—and at what point—before publication; what kind of book events are most appropriate for your academic book; how a press decides if yours is a “crossover book”; what to consider when making suggestions for your book cover; What is meta-data? Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast

Today we speak with Martin Siegel, author of the recently published, Judgement and Mercy: The Turbulent Life and Times of the Judge Who Condemned the Rosenbergs about writing a biography over many years, and publishing with the trade division of an academic press. Don't forget to rate and review our show and follow us on all social media platforms here: https://linktr.ee/writingitpodcast