Online Writing Club Helps with Publish or Perish Problem

April 23, 2008 - PRLog -- MCLEAN, Virginia – “Paula Turner” was feeling increasingly desperate as she entered her third year as a tenure-track professor.  It seemed she spent all her time preparing for teaching, and she had not even published one article from her dissertation.  Two months later she was able to write in her third-year review that she had submitted two articles for publication.

How was Paula finally able to buckle down and accomplish that writing?   The Academic Writing Club was her secret weapon.  The Writing Club is an online accountability tool created by Gina Hiatt, Ph.D., founder and president of Academic Ladder LLC. She created the Club for graduate students, post docs, and professors who are struggling to write regularly and productively as they work on their dissertations, proposals, articles and books.

“Although I started the Academic Writing Club with the intent of helping graduate students, it became more and more clear to me that having a Ph.D. doesn’t mean that you have good writing habits,” says Hiatt.  “Professors struggle from their first year on the job with finding time for their long-term writing projects,” she points out, “And often feel overwhelmed and frankly scared about their lack of progress towards publication.”

The Academic Writing Club’s innovative methodology addresses the key needs of support, accountability and interactivity with others.  The online set of tools help dissertation writers and professors get over writing blocks and stop procrastinating.  Club members have access to a unique website where they can log their writing progress daily, get feedback from academic writing coaches and other club members, and communicate via a message board.  They are able to see the progress of others and read their comments. This shared experience increases writing productivity dramatically.  They are shown ways to be less perfectionistic and to monitor the negative thoughts that stop them from being productive, and which lead to procrastination. There are separate online “rooms” graduate students and for professors.  Participants are able to remain anonymous if they wish.

The Club is divided into groups of 10 - 15 people with separate groups for grad students and professors.  A new popular feature in the Writing Club is a parent group for graduate students.  Similar specialty groups will be added over time.

The coaches who run the Writing Clubs have seen many dissertations finished and articles published by participants, many of whom have stayed with the Writing Club for the full year and a half of its existence.  In the past month alone, there were over eight successful dissertation defenses.  Here are some typical comments from participants:
"This program ROCKS! The discipline PLUS the support is the best thing that has happened to me in a long time (career–wise)."  -- Assistant Professor

“Being in this parents group has made me accepting of my parenting. I once APOLOGIZED to my advisor (when I had my first child) for being a mom in academia. I was so scatterbrained with hormonal changes and resented being torn or having to choose and sacrifice. I felt like someone had slurped up my brains, my life was taken up by little creature's rhythms…and I apologized. I now know that I can and will love all 'my children' equally…no apologies. For some reason as I turned in my paper I thought of that today and realized how far I'd come.” -- Grad Student

"Wow - end of week 3. I can't tell you how much this writing group has helped my productivity. This was money very well spent."  -- Grad Student

“The Academic Ladder Writing Club has been incredibly useful. Such a simple idea: write a little bit every day, tell the group your goals for tomorrow, and report on your progress. But almost magically, I got more writing done in 30 days than I had in the previous 60 or even 90. I don't think there's a better investment you can make in completing your degree.”  -- Ray W., 5th year Ph.D. Candidate, MIT

"I can see my work habits changing daily. For the first time EVER in my academic career I feel confident that I can not only live up to expectations but possibly even exceed them. (Immediate anxiety aside) work is fun".  -- Assistant Professor

“This is my third time in this writing group and I don't think I'll ever leave. I'll probably need this type of support after my dissertation when I'm working towards tenure. Thanks Gina, Jayne and all my fellow club members.” – Grad Student

“I actually managed to spend two more hours in the evening on my article, and just sent it to my editor (!)This feels really good.  Thanks to the Writing Club!  I don't think I would be so productive without it.”  -- Assistant Professor

Hiatt suggests, “The best gift you can give someone in academia is to tell them about the Academic Writing Club, the only low cost alternative to a writing or dissertation coach.”   The Academic Writing Club starts May 5 and runs through June 1. The fee is $60; only $50 if you sign up by May 2.  For more information, go to http://AcademicWritingClub.com.

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About Academic Ladder:  Gina J Hiatt, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, tenure coach and dissertation coach who created the Academic Ladder because she enjoys helping faculty and graduate students complete their dissertations and publish, while maintaining high teaching standards and other commitments. In addition to dissertation and tenure coaching, Academic Ladder offers workshops and teleclasses on time management, writing, career planning and grad student/advisor relationships. Sign up for her 3 free writing productivity boosters at http://www.academicladder.com/ezines. You can write her at gina@academicladder.com.