Attendants at the Creative Writing for Academics Workshop at Bournemouth University. Some hold copies of the photograph from which they created a storyRecently, 27 academics, some from as far away as upstate New York and Dublin, gathered for the Creative Writing for Academics with Kip Jones at Bournemouth University (BU). Their goal was two days of experimentation with writing techniques to engender more creative outputs in their academic writing.
The conclusion of one participant reflected the sentiments of many: “The Creative Writing for Academics workshop turned out to be a great experience, more than expected!!”
The two-day workshop was organised by BU’s Centre for Qualitative Research, and was promoted thusly:
“This unique event isn’t a typical writing retreat (with trees to hug and lots of time to ruminate), but a very active experience with exercises, suggestions and supportive feedback on participants’ work…”
The workshop was envisaged as a way to help academics with publishing in the wider world of blogs and online outlets, moving work to mixed media, auto-ethnography, and even fiction, radio and film. Jones gave ideas of the kinds of blogs and even journals that are receptive to creative academic work. He shared experiences with his own outputs and finding like-minded editors with whom to work.
Read the full report on the Workshop on Sage’s Social Science Space blog: “Academics Urged to Flip Their Academic Writing”
Attendants at the Creative Writing for Academics Workshop at Bournemouth University. Some hold copies of the photograph from which they created a story.
CQR’s Support of University and Faculty strategies:
The research work and ideas of the Centre supports pedagogic innovations and developments at undergraduate and postgraduate levels; the Centre includes staff who work across disciplinary boundaries, stimulating interdisciplinary research, and offering inspirational approaches to practice development, all of which contribute to fusion.
With a focus on the human condition, we are supportive of creative approaches, using the arts to help the personal as well as academic development of students and staff; we see these as key to high quality professional practice, supporting an excellent student experience, and high staff morale.
Researchers, lectures and postdoctoral staff are aligned to the Centre. The work of the Centre underpins the Professional doctorate and, traditionally, has attracted many successful PhD candidates. Members have local, national, and international partnerships with social sciences, health, and social care organisations that are committed to wider social wellbeing activity.
Members of the Centre lead qualitative research, education (at both undergraduate and postgraduate level), and practice initiatives. There is a great deal of cross-fertilisation of their work between disciplines. The Centre’s passion is about how knowledge is created and disseminated in the real world and so fusion is often at the heart of the work of the Centre.
The Centre for Qualitative Research offers expertise for both faculty and students whose interests are piqued by a qualitative understanding of the human condition.
