Workshops Archive 2012
'Finish That Paper' writing retreat
As part of the Faculty’s research support programme, a 'Finish That Paper' 2-day writing retreat for ECRs and MCRS was held in February with fourteen ademic staff drawn from the across the three Schools in FEDUA.
The retreat was led by with Professor Barbara Kamler and provided an invaluable opportunity for early and mid-career researchers to receive expert feedback and guidance on a draft journal article, to devote an intensive chunk of time to writing in a supported environment and to learn new skills about writing for scholarly journals.
Each day was structured to provide 3-4 hours writing time as well as workshop presentations from Professor Kamler on writing abstracts and making an authoritative contribution to the field. Writers also had the opportunity to meet individually with Barbara Kamler for more intensive feedback on their writing.
Participants nominated themselves when the call for Expressions of Interest went out in November last year and then submitted an abstract or draft prior to the retreat . They also committed to completing and submitting the article to their target journal within 8 weeks of the retreat. As an added incentive, for those who complete their article within six weeks of the retreat, the Faculty is providing RA support to have it proof read and formatted to journal specifications ready for submission.
The retreat was the Faculty’s first post-ERA attempt to support particularly early career researchers to think strategically about building their track record and so build the foundation for other research endeavours. The feedback it generated was very encouraging:
“Barbara is brilliant at clarifying the writing process and she enabled us to be productive even when it seemed too difficult at times. It was strangely good to write in a room with others.”
“The retreat was excellent I think, mainly through scheduling in significant time to write and physically locating people in a place to do the writing. Barbara's input is excellent...”
“Barbara is confronting and challenging at times but it certainly jolts you out of your comfort zone. I learnt a lot about how really to write for journals and that it is possible to finally get what you know out there! The time to write was valuable and to have no distractions by administrivia back at the office is priceless.”
“Thanks so much for the opportunity to write over these past two days. I've been continuing the 'flow' this week and Barbara's advice is still ringing in my ears! It was hard work and Barbara is tough, but I would be very interested as an ECR to be a part of this kind of opportunity again!”
“As a very 'new' academic to both the profession and the University it provided a fabulous space to connect with people and their work. The abstract and introduction session were very useful as was meeting with Barbara. It was great to have feedback in this way on a draft and the uninterrupted time and space to write!”
The Faculty was delighted to welcome Barbara Kamler back to Newcastle. She is Emeritus Professor at Deakin University, Melbourne and Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. She has researched extensively on the theory and practice of writing across the life span, and has a strong reputation in the field of language and literacy education. Barbara has led academic writing workshops across a wide range of disciplines including, education, social work, sociology, population health, communication and creative industries. So she was very well placed to be working with the very diverse mix of research fields that have come together for this two day retreat.
Congratulations to the participants and good luck with ‘finishing that paper!’: Stephanie Bengtsson; Erin Christensen; Euridice Charon Cardona; Helen English; Daniella Forster; Judith Foggett; Tom Griffith; Amanda Howard; Lou Johnston; Kit Messham-Muir; Zsuzsa Millei; Angela Philp; Annie Ross and Heather Sharp.
“FINISH THAT PAPER’: A Writing Retreat for ECRS
Conducted by Emeritus Professor Barbara Kamler, Deakin University
February 20-21 2012
This 2 day writing retreat is designed to help ECRs enhance their writing-for-publication success in peer refereed journals. The retreat will provide much needed WRITING TIME within a community of supportive colleagues from across the university. Each day will be structured to provide 3-4 hours writing time as well as workshop presentations on writing abstracts and making an authoritative contribution to the field. Writers will also have the opportunity to meet individually with Barbara Kamler for more intensive feedback on their writing.
Participants are expected to write an abstract for their journal article, select an appropriate journal in their field and begin writing the article, so that at least half of it is completed prior to the retreat. It is understood that this is a draft, rather than a fully conceptualised work, that will evolve and change. More specifically, you will be asked to:
What do you need to have prepared in advance?
Participates are expected to have prepared an abstract for an article for a journal in your field and begin writing the article, so that at least half of it is completed prior to the retreat. It is understood that this is a draft, rather than a fully conceptualised work, that will evolve and change.
Please submit your draft article (at least half complete) to Catherine.Oddie@newcastle.edu.au by Friday 10 February so Barbara can familiarise herself with your work.
What do you bring to the retreat?
- Bring 4 copies of your abstract (which will be workshopped with peers) following the word length and layout specified by your target journal.
- Bring all the materials you will need to the retreat (data, readings, etc).
- Laptop
The retreat asks that you commit to completing and submitting the article to your target journal within 8 weeks of the retreat.
WHEN: 20 & 21 February 2012
WHERE: The Shortland Hub and, all three venues (The Treehouse, the Nelson and Lambert Rooms)
RSVP: Please send express of interest to Catherine Oddie
Barbara Kamler is Emeritus Professor at Deakin University, Melbourne and Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney. She has researched extensively on the theory and practice of writing across the life span, from early childhood to old age, in primary, secondary, university and community contexts. She currently runs seminars in Australia and internationally to help doctoral and early career academics develop authoritative writing and a robust publication record. Recent book publications include Helping doctoral students write: Pedagogies for supervision (with Pat Thomson, Routledge, 2006) and Publishing pedagogies for the doctorate and beyond (co-edited with Claire Aitchison and Alison Lee, Routledge, 2010). She is currently completing a manuscript Writing for peer refereed Journals: Strategies for success with Pat Thomson for publication by Routledge, 2012.