WriteCast: A Casual Conversation for Serious Writers

This bonus episode contains just the follow-along activity from episode #61, "Restorative Writing." We recommend listening to the "Restorative Writing" episode first to learn what restorative writing is, how to practice restorative writing, and how to use it as a vehicle to understand and process individual and/or community trauma. Then, follow along with this bonus episode for just the activity. You can participate in the activity as many times and as often as you'd like!

Resources:

• Recorded webinar: "Using Restorative Writing to Enact Social Change"
• Batzer, B. (2016). Healing classrooms: Therapeutic possibilities in academic writing. Composition Forum, 34. Retrieved from http://compositionforum.com/
• DeSalvo, L. A. (2000). Writing as a way of healing: How telling our stories transforms our lives. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

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Writing instructors Ellen and Miranda join Kacy and Claire for this month's special episode and bonus episode on restorative writing. Restorative writing is when writing becomes a vehicle for transforming pain into engagement. Learn more about what restorative writing is, how to practice restorative writing, and how to use it as a vehicle to understand and process individual and/or community trauma. Ultimately, restorative writing can help writers discover ways to heal and overcome those challenges through social change.

The latter half of the episode contains a follow-along restorative writing activity. If you've already listened to this episode and would like to just participate in the activity again, check out our #61 bonus episode.

Resources:

• Recorded webinar: "Using Restorative Writing to Enact Social Change"
• Batzer, B. (2016). Healing classrooms: Therapeutic possibilities in academic writing. Composition Forum, 34. Retrieved from http://compositionforum.com/
• DeSalvo, L. A. (2000). Writing as a way of healing: How telling our stories transforms our lives. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

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In this episode, Claire and Kacy talk about their experiences in formal creative writing workshops. Claire contributes her insights from her MFA in creative writing program and Kacy describes participating as a “non-creative” writer. The two consider ways that creative workshop techniques can help students create productive writing groups of their own.

NOTE: At one point in the episode, Kacy makes reference to a “chair member” but is actually referring to one of her committee members. 

Related resources:

WriteCast Episode 42: Using Creative Writing Strategies in Academic Writing

Narrative Writing Series: Tips from Creative Writers blog post

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Creating an academic writing goal or goals for yourself can be a great tool for motivation, organization, and writing development. Writing instructor Miranda joins co-hosts Kacy and Claire to talk about setting writing goals that are achievable and manageable, sticking to goals, and using specific strategies and resources to help you do both.

Resources mentioned:

• Writing a Paper: Goal Setting (includes Why Set a Writing Goal, How to Set a Writing Goal, How to Avoid Ineffective Writing Goals, Examples of Effective Writing Goals, How to Achieve Your Writing Goals)
• Search "goal" and "goal setting" on the Walden University Writing Center website

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Kacy and Claire share tips and inspiration for making smaller revisions and working the steps into your writing process.

Recommended resources:

• Grammar resources
• Interactive grammar modules
• Grammarly (for Walden students)
• Revision journals
• "When/How to Conduct Revision and Proofreading" blog post
• "Top 10 Preproposal and Proposal Fixes for Capstone Writers" blog post
• Walden University Writing Center Blog posts on grammar and mechanics
• Interactive modules on APA style
• Paper reviews (for Walden students)
• Microsoft Word help for Walden students through the Academic Skills Center

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Revision is a major part of the writing process, and different types of revising warrant different strategies. Claire and Kacy give tips and resources for how to revise your writing for bigger patterns and issues in your current drafts as well as your future coursework.

Recommended resources:

• WriteCast episode 14: "The 5 Rs of Revision"
• Walden University Writing Center website resources on revision
• On-demand webinar: "Improving Your Writing: Strategies for Revising, Proofing, and Using Feedback"
• Walden University Writing Center Blog posts on revision

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Melissa and Meghan, two of the Walden Writing Center's instructors, work toward positive social change in their communities by writing to their local representatives. Kacy and Claire talk with Melissa and Meghan about how this writing is similar and different to academic writing, tools they use, and what they have experienced as a result.

Resources:

• Scholarly Voice
• Audience
• Using Evidence
• WriteCast episode #51: Using Evidence in Academic Writing
• Writing for Social Change webinar series
• Walden Writing Center Blog posts on writing for social change
• Social Change at the Writing Center
• Walden Writing Center weekly e-newsletter (e-mail [email protected] and ask to be added to the distribution list)
• ResistBot

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If you struggle with spelling, you're not alone! Claire and Kacy give some quick tips for how to improve and check your spelling.

Resources:

• "Making Word Work For You" Walden Writing Center Blog post
• APA Section 4.12 
• Dictionaries:
• Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
• Webster’s Third New International Dictionary (2002)
• APA Dictionary of Psychology
• Writing a Paper: Proofreading
• Microsoft Word tutoring from the Walden University Academic Skills Center (for current Walden students)

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Get to know Tasha, one of the Writing Center's newest writing instructors, in this brief interview with Claire and Kacy. Tasha shares her approach to a paper review appointment, her favorite types of papers to review, some recommended writing resources, and the best writing advice she received in school.

Resources mentioned:

• "5 Flow Part 3: Transition with Words, Sentences, and Paragraphs" blog post
• "Breaking Down the MEAL Plan: A Four-Part Series on Writing Strong Paragraphs" blog post
• Walden Writing Center Blog

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If you've ever felt like the worst writer in the room, an academic fake, or an outsider in your degree program, you might have been experiencing imposter syndrome. In today's episode, writing instructor Kacy shares her research on and experience with imposter syndrome as a graduate student, along with tips for how to combat it and gain confidence. Max also makes a special announcement.

Resources:

• Persky, A. M. (2018). Intellectual self-doubt and how to get out of it. American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 82(2), 86-87. doi:10.5688/ajpe6990
• Walden University (Producer). (2017, June 23). Val Krage on early childhood education, being a doctoral peer mentor, & imposter syndrome. In S. Picht (Ed.), The savvy student podcast [podcast]. Retrieved from https://soundcloud.com/waldenacademicskillscenter
• Walden University (Producer). (2017, July 3). Dr. Christy Fraenza on staying connected to WaldenU, the doctoral peer mentors, & imposter syndrome. In S. Picht (Ed.), The savvy student podcast [podcast]. Retrieved from https://soundcloud.com/waldenacademicskillscenter

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