Who am I When I Write? Voice in Academic Writing

Some also wonder how it's possible to have a voice if they can't use 'I'. This workshop explores the concept of 'voice' in academic writing and how confidence and courage are important to self-expression. Participants are asked to bring some of their work with them so they can apply insights from the morning to considering ways of exploring and developing their own voice in afternoon timed writing sessions. By the end of the workshop you should be better able to:

• consider voice in general, and your own voice, in academic writing

• examine the relationship between writer and reader

• explore how techniques used in non-academic writing can be adopted in academic writing

• understand the benefits of reading as a writer

• consider the relevance of narrative techniques to academic writing

• think about how to paraphrase effectively

Katie Grant FHEA co-created the Advancing Academic Writing skills website for the University of Glasgow, where she was the Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow for three years, helping undergraduates, Masters and PhD students with their writing. A columnist, occasional broadcaster, author of ten novels (Sedition, her latest, is published by Virago), on the panel of judges for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction, an occasional book reviewer for, amongst other publications, the New York Times and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, she runs writing workshops on improving the quality, reach and impact of academic writing for all levels of HE. Long experience of the practical, emotional and organisational challenges of writing for deadlines and for different audiences informs all her workshops. She understands from first-hand the value of getting writing done and getting it done well.

Photo Credit: Joe the Goat