In an era of "America's Next Top Model" and "Age of Love" (more on that soon - I'm fuming), women's studies scholars have so damn much to contribute to public debate. Yet too often this work fails to reach an audience outside of the academy. Coming off the NWSA conference this weekend, I'm primed and pumped to share more of what I've learned in recent years about going, as they say, "pop."
3 tips from the "Public Voice" workshop I gave at NWSA:
1. Contrary to what we academics (and ex-, post-, and trans-academics) have been told, writing a book for "trade" is not about dumbing it down. It's about popping it up, with purpose.
2. A dissertation by any other name is NOT a book.
3. Breaking out of academic writing requires an utter willingness to let yourself play.
5 Recommended Resources:
Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott
Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg
Thinking Like Your Editor: How to Write Great Serious Nonfiction--and Get It Published by Susan Rabiner and Alfred Fortunato
The Art of the Book Proposal by Eric Maisel
Jeff Herman's Guide to Book Publishers, Editors & Literary Agents 2008: Who They Are! What They Want! How to Win Them Over!
If you're reading this and thinking "yes! I'm ready! let's go!" do sign up for the Girl with Pen e-mail list and I'll send notification about dates for future workshops and online courses on "Making It Pop: Translating Ideas for Trade." (And thanks again to the rockin' 45 of you who signed up for the session at NWSA!)
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