Citation
Rayner, R. (2013), "Attending a writing for publication workshop", Social Care and Neurodisability, Vol. 4 No. 3/4. https://doi.org/10.1108/SCN-06-2013-0024
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Attending a writing for publication workshop
Article Type: Publication Workshop Review From: Social Care and Neurodisability, Volume 4, Issue 3/4
I have a confession. I don’t read professional journals. I know I should because it's good for my practice. I don’t, because in my opinion professional journals tend to be tedious. I want the outcome in a nutshell. I want a bite-sized précis of what was done, when, by whom and for what reason.
I hoped the writing workshop would provide me with the knowledge and skills to write creatively and crisply for publication. I hoped I would get permission that despite not having a PhD nor working in academia I could submit an article for others to read. Oh, and most importantly, that you would find this article interesting enough to keep reading and be encouraged to give it a go!
Declan Mc Nicholl provided an overview of how to go about being published. As different thoughts started to be shared many of us realised we were already writing a great deal and some had been “published” already without realising it.
We learned that to start with you need a beginning: an introduction to an article. You have to tell people why they should keep reading. My goal here is that you will be encouraged to write and not feel intimidated by the process as I did before attending the workshop.
In the middle we discussed ways to overcome the barriers to writing such as lack of time, confidence or thinking “who will care”? Attendees reported that the pressures of meeting targets mean that most if not all practitioners rarely take the time to read journals or write articles. We discussed ways to incorporate writing into your professional development and ensuring managers are aware of the value in writing up good practice. (This point became more relevant in thinking about blogging or Twitter.) In a changing climate writing about experiences for publication can provide a forum to share ideas and encouragement. I love hearing new ideas from practitioners that work in creative or innovative ways. I would also rather learn from others’ mistakes. But if you don’t write about it how will I learn?
The afternoon presented ideas on writing via blogging, Twitter and Facebook. The pros and cons of social media was discussed and how to safely use forums such as Twitter or Wordpress for blogging your professional or personal experiences for anyone to read. Rebecca Joy Novell encouraged us to look at some well done blogs such as “Diary of a benefit scrounger” and suggested making comments on people's blogs for cautious writers or diving straight in and start writing your own. Through blogging we can share more than ever before. I wondered where else might you have this much influence on people and places you will never reach in your day job?
The following conclusions from the day will encourage me (and I hope you too) to write for publication:
1. You won’t be “brilliant” first time around.
2. All the barriers can be overcome
3. Have the courage to write creatively and be innovative.
4. Give it a go.
P.S. You will be amazed how quickly the word count increases and you have a full article before you know it!
Rachel Rayner
Specialist Practitioner, based at East CAMHS, Lichfield, UK